Meanwhile, the Chinese mainland launched 3,856 exchange programs with Taiwan, with over 33,000 visits by mainlanders to Taiwan being registered. The two figures indicated an increase of 46 percent and 55 percent respectively over the same period of the previous year.

"In the year 2002, although political stalemate between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits has not been broken, the non-governmental exchanges kept growing," Xinhua quoted an official, who refused to be named, of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council as saying.

The so-called theory of "one country on each side of the Taiwan Straits" advocated by Taiwan's leaders has put new obstacles in the way of cross-Straits exchanges, said the official.

He said the harmonious atmosphere generated by cross-Strait people-to-people cultural and religious exchanges reflected the true sentiments of the people on the two sides.

"In the new year, we will continue to promote exchanges and cooperation under the one-China principle and better serve the Taiwan compatriots," said the official.

Cross-Straits cultural exchanges were the hit of 2002, starting with an appearance by Taiwan crosstalk performers at the annual Spring Festival party on China Central Television.

Various local operas with different dialects offered their unique performances to Taiwan audiences. In return, Taiwan's band F4 won the hearts of the young fans on both sides.

But religious exchanges were the real highlight of all the culture exchanges.

Sakyamuni's finger bone relic, which had been enshrined in Taiwan for more than one month, was worshipped by about 4 million Buddhist believers on the island.

Through devout religious beliefs, people clearly feel the cohesion, affinity and unique appeal of Chinese culture. The finger bone relic returned to Famen Temple in Xi'an, the capital city of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province on March 31.

Also last year, the statue of Mazu from the original Mazu temple in the Meizhou Island of Putian, in East China's Fujian Province, made her first direct voyage to Taiwan's Jinmen Island to allow local residents to worship this "Goddess of Sea."

The frequent cross-Straits exchanges reflect the basic demand of people on both sides, said the official. These activities make it clear to the people that, at the present stage, there is the need for more exchanges and contacts between people across the Straits.

(China Daily January 2, 2003)