The obstacles set by the Taiwan authorities have hindered talks across the Taiwan Straits on the trade of natural sand, a resource Taiwan's construction industry depends heavily on the mainland to supply, Commerce Minister Bo Xilai said on Monday.

China has announced that it will stop the export of natural sand beginning March 31 this year, to protect the resource and the environment.

"Sand is a natural resource that has a direct bearing on the environment, and the central government has been very cautious to this kind of products," Bo said at a press conference held on the sidelines of the top legislature's annual full session.

However, the mainland will adopt different policies toward Taiwan and the two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, Bo told reporters.

"In terms of natural conditions, there is no big river in both Hong Kong and Macao, but Taiwan has rivers and there is river sand on the island," he said.

Meanwhile, the mainland has established effective negotiation mechanism and channels with Hong Kong and Macao, but not with Taiwan, the minister added.

According to him, the mainland is "always willing to do more to the benefit of our compatriots in Taiwan." Over the recent years, the mainland has been active in promoting the sales of Taiwan fruits, vegetables and aquatic products on the mainland.

"But the Taiwan authorities have set a lot of obstacles and made a lot of trouble in this regard."

"We hope the Taiwan authorities, taking into consideration the fundamental interests of the people from both sides of the Straits, would take actions to resolve these problems," Bo said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2007)