The Chinese mainland will soon issue measures to further facilitate the entry and exit of Taiwan compatriots, employment of Taiwan compatriots and academic pursuits of Taiwan students on the mainland, a mainland official said Wednesday in Beijing.

"These measures are included in our solemn promises to Taiwan compatriots. We'll consciously carry them out," said He Zhijun, a senior official of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a regular press conference.

He was referring to some of the major contents on expanding exchanges across the Taiwan Straits in the communiques issued after the talks between General Secretary Hu Jintao of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and top leaders of Taiwan's two biggest opposition parties in May.

According to the official, the mainland has nearly completed the drafting of measures on simplifying the entry and exit of Taiwan compatriots and loosening criterion for the employment of Taiwan compatriots. The measures for the same school fees for both Taiwan and mainland students and for scholarships for Taiwan students would be worked out soon.

By the end of 2004, a total of 33.88 million Taiwan people had visited the mainland. More than 1 million mainland people had visited Taiwan.

He said the mainland has been consistently promoting cross- Strait personnel exchange and exchanges in various fields. The mainland is always ready to do anything beneficial to Taiwan compatriots and the development of cross-Strait relations, and " will do them well."

Source: Xinhua