Mainland urges early setup of travel service in Taiwan   (Xinhua)  Updated: 2006-08-28 08:48  BEIJING -- The mainland hopes 
to see a non-governmental travel organization set up and operating in Taiwan as 
soon as possible, an official in charge of Taiwan affairs said here Sunday. 
The spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council told 
Xinhua that the mainland's policy has been to promote trips to Taiwan by 
mainland tourists. 
 The spokesman said that the policy reflects a consensus reached by the 
Communist Party of China and Taiwan-based Kuomintang Party. 
 "We have been promoting this development in an active, pragmatic manner. Many 
people from Kuomintang and Taiwan tourism circles have come to the mainland to 
consult with us," the spokesman said. 
 The spokesman urged Taiwan authorities to take a pragmatic attitude and allow 
a Taiwan non-governmental travel service to start talks with the mainland's 
Cross-Strait Tourism Exchange Association (CSTEA). 
  The mainland authorized civilian tours of the island in May last year. 
In November, after a mainland tourism inspection delegation visited the 
island, the mainland authorized the CSTEA to negotiate with Taiwan on travel 
services for mainlanders.   
  |