The mainland would continue to push forward cross-Straits exchanges and talks between ARATS and SEF, to further improve mainland-Taiwan relations, he said.

The ARATS delegation would continue to make preparations for its Taiwan visit, Chen said, adding cross-Straits ties would break new ground with the joint efforts made by the people on both sides of the Straits.

Zhang, who is also the ARATS deputy chief, said at the Beijing airport that many Taiwan people had expressed their concern toward him through mail and phone calls after his assault.

He said he was greeted by Taiwan people apologizing for the violent attack all the way from his hotel to the airport in Taiwan on Wednesday morning.

Zhang said the assault was staged by only a few people who didn't represent the majority of the Taiwan compatriots.

He expressed his gratitude to people across the Taiwan Straits for their concern, and vowed to engage in cross-Straits exchanges more actively in the future to further boost mainland-Taiwan relations.

Chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation Chiang Pin-kun holds a press conference on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, condemning the serious offense of Taiwan pro-independence activists to the Dean of Journalism at Xiamen University, Zhang Mingqing. [cnsphoto]

(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2008)