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Cross-Straits travel eased by new rules

By  Qian Yanfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-08 09:15

Beijing yesterday unveiled a series of new measures to facilitate cross-Straits exchanges and co-operation amid better relations between the mainland and Taiwan.

Wang Yi, minister of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, announced that mainland residents with permits to go to Taiwan will be able to travel to and from Taiwan through the islands of Jinmen, Mazu and Penghu.

Residents of 13 mainland provinces and municipalities can take tours to Taiwan Island via the three small islands under one of five new policies for cross-Straits travel.

Wang released these policies at a forum in Xiamen on the development of the Western Taiwan Straits Economic Zone.

Since July 20, residents in the municipalities of Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai and the provinces of Liaoning, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Hubei, Guangdong, Chongqing, Yunnan and Shaanxi have been allowed to visit Taiwan in groups, under an agreement between mainland and Taiwan authorities.

Wang said the mainland might expand the list of provinces and municipalities in the future.

He said the new policies also include a provision that as of October 20, Taiwan compatriots traveling to the mainland can obtain Mainland Travel Permits for Taiwan Residents (MTPs) or change their old MTPs into new ones valid for five years in the municipalities of Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing and Shanghai, and in the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Fujian.

He said starting September 25, each MTP holder will be assigned a permanent number.

The rules for issuing MTP codes will be adjusted to facilitate application procedures on the mainland.

He said China will add Beijing, Nanjing, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guilin and Shenzhen to the list of places that issue travel permits to Taiwan compatriots starting on October 20.

The minister pledged Beijing's commitment to strengthen cooperation across the Straits while striving for the peaceful development of bilateral ties.

"Cross-Straits relations are currently at a new starting point," said Wang.

"In launching weekend charter flights and Taiwan tours for mainland residents, the people on both sides of the Straits have a strong wish for better ties," he added.

The number of Taiwan travelers to the mainland reached 470 million by the end of last year, while 1.6 million mainland tourists traveled to the island, according to statistics from the Taiwan Affairs Office.

Statistics also show that there are nearly 700,000 Taiwan compatriots working and living in the mainland.