Non-governmental tourism organizations of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan have held talks on the technical issues of opening Taiwan-bound routes for mainland residents.

 

"Some problems still need further consultations," said Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, in Beijing on Wednesday.

 

He said the mainland had manifested a positive and pragmatic attitude on opening the routes to Taiwan on many occasions, including jointly sponsoring tourism exhibitions in Taipei, inviting Taiwan travel agencies to attend a tourism fair in Shanghai and showing TV documentaries about attractions in Taiwan.

 

"We hope mainland residents can travel to Taiwan as early as possible," said Li.

 

The mainland has been actively promoting exchanges with Taiwan in a bid to improve relations across the Taiwan Strait.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2006)