The mainland hopes to continue negotiations with Taiwan over the opening of new flight routes along the southeastern coast.

"The new flight routes, scheduled to be put into action on March 5, are within the Shanghai Flight Information Region. The routes are necessities for the economic development of the civil aviation industry,'said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

Ma quoted a statement released by the Civil Aviation Administration of China saying the design and evaluation work of the new flight route M503 was finished in 2007 with the cooperation of American aviation experts. It has been approved by the international civil aviation organization.

"The route's operation, safety and reliability conform to international standards. The air traffic control department also has formulated the relevant operation technology measures and emergency disposal procedures,'Ma said.

The new routes are mainly for relieving increased demand for flights in Shanghai and the Pearl River Delta, he said.

Ma said cross-Straits aviation departments have maintained negotiations on the issue and carried out two rounds of meetings already.

The Chinese mainland hopes to continue talking with Taiwan about the issue and hopes the people of Taiwan can have more understanding of the mainland and reduce doubts, he said.