(XINHUA)

Cai Wu, Honorary Chairman of the Chinese mainland-based China Friendship Association of Cultural Circles, visited Taiwan on September 2-8.

Cai, Minister of Culture, attended a cross-Straitscultural forum in Taipei on September 6 at the invitation of the Taiwan-based Sheen Chuen-Chi Cultural and Educational Foundation.

"We hope the two sides across the Taiwan Straits conduct extensive talks on the cultural exchange pact and then sign it, to create a cross-Straits cultural cooperation mechanism," said Cai at the opening ceremony of the forum.

Cai said since the signing of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement in June had boosted cross-Straits economic relations, the two sides should now work to deepen cultural exchanges.

Economic and trade ties are very important, but they are no substitute for exchanges of culture and thought, he said.