BEIJING -- A Chinese mainland salvage vessel will visit Taiwan between April 29 and May 11 at the invitation of the island, a mainland official said Wednesday.

Yang Yi, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the vessel, "East China Sea Salvage-113," would visit the island's Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hualien and Keelung ports, and stop at each port for about two days to open the boat to the public, including maritime affairs students, and hold exchange activities.

He said the mainland was glad to see "deepened cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in the fields of maritime search and rescue" and enhanced maritime salvage capabilities, so as to ensure safety of people on both sides and boats traveling across the Strait.