The Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) on Tuesday published its emblem symbolizing cross-Straits peace and cooperation.

The emblem, featuring waves and hands, conveyed the meaning of "inseparable ties," "cooperation," and "peaceful development" between the mainland and Taiwan, the association said in a statement. It was designed by the Beijing-based Tsinghua University.

ARATS ruled out commercial use of the emblem, claimed its copyright and warned against infringement of the copyright or abuse of the image.

The association was founded in December 1991 to promote cross-Straits relations. It was authorized by the mainland to handle exchanges with the Taiwan-based Strait Exchange Foundation, founded in 1990.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2009)