A Chinese mainland official has described further negotiations and correspondence with the Taiwan authorities as "meaningless" if they have no "sincerity" in responding to the mainland's requests to send a delegation to an agricultural forum on the island.

Taiwan's Foundation for Exchanges Across the Taiwan Straits had sent another letter to the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits regarding the planned visit of Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

An official with the association said it had made clear and concise replies to the letters, which were received on August 21 and 29.

"The comment of our association's spokesman on August 28 was released under authorization, which stated clearly and completely the mainland's stance on Chen's visit to Taiwan and the agricultural forum planned by the CPC and the Kuomintang Party," the official said.

"The key point of the issue clearly remains the attitude of the Taiwan authorities in allowing the forum to be held in Taipei and accepting Chen's delegation.

"If the answer is no, it would be meaningless to send more documents, make more comments and do more preliminary negotiations, which we think is a distraction and a delay," the official said.

If the Taiwan authorities were sincere, they should treat the issue carefully and respond as clearly and as soon as possible, he said.

A mainland spokesman said Monday the mainland hoped the Taiwan authorities would allow a delegation headed by Chen Yunlin to attend an agricultural forum

As a part of the inter-party exchanges, the forum was scheduled by the CPC and Kuomintang for last October. Chen's application was rejected last year because of the suspension of negotiations between the two sides since 2000.

The spokesman insisted Chen's delegation would be involved in no issues other than agricultural cooperation, and would have nothing to do with the resumption of cross-Straits negotiations or other talks.