A Chinese mainland official expressed regrets that the Taiwan authorities have forbidden Taiwan students studying on the Chinese mainland to take charter flights back home during the Lunar New Year.

Li Weiyi, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council, or China's cabinet, said at a regular press conference that the mainland always hopes that Taiwan students studying on the mainland and Taiwan compatriots could travel across the Straits during the festival by the charter flights.

"Since we are trying to provide easy accesses for Taiwan compatriots, why not do it better?" Li said, "Besides, each side will have six airlines to operate 24 non-stop round-trip flights, which can totally afford the transportation task."

Li said that Taiwan students studying on the mainland, who are not economically independent, deserve more care and protection.

"We hope the Taiwan side to take careful considerations over the issue," Li said.

Talking about mainland's preparation work for the charter flights across the Straits, Li said that China's aviation companies have set up special working offices in Beijing, Guangdong and Shanghai, the three mainland's destinations for the charter flights during the festival.

A major reason for Taiwan authorities' decision was that students attending university on the mainland are studying without the approval of the Taiwan authorities.

Chinese mainland and Taiwan civil aviation circles reached a consensus on January 15 about non-stop charter flights for Taiwan business people during the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year.

According to the arrangement, non-stop flights between mainland cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Taiwan's Taipei and Kaohsiung will be in operation from Jan. 29 to Feb. 20 for Taiwanese business people working on the mainland and their relatives. This will allow them to return home for the Lunar New Year that falls on Feb. 9, a traditional festival for family reunion.