Implementation of the policy to allow Chinese mainland residents to Taiwan for sightseeing accords with people's wish and the development trend, Zhang Xiqin, deputy director of the China Tourism Association said Saturday.

The tourist circles on both sides of the Taiwan Straits should combine their efforts to create a mutually beneficial and win-win situation in two-way visits, said Zhang at a seminar on visits by residents on the Chinese mainland to Taiwan.

Since the mainland and Taiwan started exchanges in 1987, exchange of visits reached a historical high. So far, 36 million Taiwan compatriots have come to the mainland for study, sightseeing, business transaction and visit to their relatives.

However, mainland inhabitants are still not allowed to visit Taiwan. Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, was authorized to announce on May 3 this year that china allows mainland residents to tour in Taiwan. However, when it comes true remains a hot topic across the straits.

Source: Xinhua