Lien Chan, honorary chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT), has been officially invited to attend the Olympics, Li Weiyi, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said in Beijing Wednesday.

Wu Poh-hsiung, chairman of the KMT, has also been invited, he said at a regular press briefing.

"There have been some positive changes in Taiwan recently and the cross-Straits relationship is showing good momentum," Li said.

"People from both sides are looking forward to the resumption of dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible, particularly the regularization of cross-Straits chartered flights on weekends and the lifting of controls on mainland tourists visiting Taiwan.

"We have made efforts at this end and if the process is disrupted, it will not be a welcome development for people across the Straits."

Li said he believes that with efforts from both sides, the two goals can be realized.

Li told the media he had no comment on the appointment of Lai Shin-yuan as head of the Mainland Affairs Council by Taiwan's incoming leader Ma Ying-jeou.

Lai is a former lawmaker from the pro-independent Taiwan Solidarity Union.