China's top negotiator on Taiwan pledged Thursday not to meddle in the island's political affairs during talks next week.
"No political issues pertaining to cross-Strait relations will be involved, nor will Taiwan's internal political affairs," the official Xinhua news agency quoted Chen Yunlin, head of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, as saying.
Chen will meet with Chiang Pin-kung, head of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, on a five-day visit to the island beginning Monday.
He said he wanted the talks to focus on direct shipping, air transport, postal services, food safety and tourism, while he hoped the two sides could exchange ideas on how to cope with the global economic crisis.
China has considered Taiwan a part of its territory since a civil war ended in 1949 and has vowed to reunify the island by force if necessary.
But relations between the two sides have warmed since Ma Ying-jeou, of the China-friendly Kuomintang party, took over from Chen Shui-bian as president in May.
And next week's meeting comes after Chiang visited Beijing in June in a trip that kicked off negotiations between the two sides following a nearly 10-year hiatus.
"We've lost precious time and a lot of accumulated problems need to be solved through negotiation… for the benefits of cross-Strait relations and Taiwan compatriots, we have no excuse to hold off," the mainland's Chen said.
The two sides have no formal ties but keep dialogue open between the two semi official bodies headed by Chen and Chiang.
Chen's comments came as a Taiwanese pro-independence politician was indicted Thursday for attacking another Chinese envoy during his visit to the island this month to make preparations for Chen's trip.
China has said that incident would not derail efforts to improve relations.
