国内英语新闻:Chinese mainland sends condolences over death of Taiwan entrepreneur

BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland Monday conveyed its condolences over the death of Koo Cheng-yun, a famous entrepreneur and son of Koo Chen-fu, former president of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

Koo Cheng-yun died in Taiwan Monday.

Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that Koo Cheng-yun had made a great contribution to boosting cross-Strait economic cooperation.

Chen Deming, president of the Chinese mainland-based Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), said that Koo Cheng-yun had played an exemplary role in boosting cross-Strait economic ties.

Founded in 1990 and 1991 respectively, ARATS and SEF are non-governmental organizations authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to engage in cross-Strait consultations.