Chen Yunlin (R), chairman of Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), and Chiang Pin-kun, chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), shake hands after signing the agreements on cross-Strait weekend charted flights and mainland tourists' traveling to Taiwan, in Beijing, China, June 13, 2008.   (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese mainland tourists can visit Taiwan from next month following the landmark agreement signed here Friday morning.

    The mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) chairman Chen Yunlin and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman Chiang Pin-kun signed the two agreements around 9 a.m. Friday after the organizations resumed talks after nine years.

    The agreement, taking effect from June 20, will see the arrival of the first tourist group to Taiwan on July 4.

    The two sides set a quota for the number of tourists in line with Taiwan's accommodation capacity and may be adjusted next year.

    "A maximum of 3,000 mainland tourists can travel to Taiwan every day," the agreement says.

    In the meantime, only groups of 10 to 40 tourists are allowed to travel to Taiwan, according to the agreement.

    It also prescribes a maximum stay of 10 days for each group.

    The two sides agreed on establishment of representative offices to handle tourism issues.

    They pledged to simplify entry and exit procedures and protect mainland tourists' legal rights and safety.

    "Any travel agency that impaired tourists' interests will be punished," the agreement says.

    The Taiwan Strait Travel and Tourism Association will open an advice and complaints hotline for mainland tourists.

    They also agreed to establish an emergency response system to settle disputes arising from tourism and handle emergency cases.

    Mainland-based travel companies welcomed the agreement.

    Chen Xiaobing, general manager of Beijing Caissa Tourist Group, said mainland residents were already very familiar with many Taiwan sights, such as Jade Mountain, Ali Mountain, Sun Moon Lake and Penghu Bay. The company didn't even have to advertise much.

    "It's really a big advantage compared with other travel products," Chen said.

    More than 15,000 people have already applied for Taiwan trips through the company, said Wang Jian, spokesman with the China Travel Service of Guangdong Province.

    "The travel business will greatly promote the communication between people from both sides and deepen their understanding," Wang said.

    Wu Yasheng, vice general manager of China Travel Service of Fujian Province, said: "In the past few days, many customers called our company to seek information on Taiwan travel. Fujian and Taiwan share a very special bond, and travel in Taiwan is very attractive to people in Fujian. We expect much of this market."

    As early as May 2005, the mainland had announced plans to allow mainland tourists to visit Taiwan. In the following years, the mainland had strived to negotiate with related Taiwan non-governmental organizations. It even drafted regulations on allowing mainland tourists to travel to Taiwan.

    However, then Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian did not establish a non-governmental organization for technical consultations till Oct. 2006.

    Since then, several technical consultations had been held without major progress due to political obstacles.

    After Ma Ying-jeou took office as Taiwan leader, he took an active attitude toward the issue and proposed to allow in mainland tourists by July.

Mainland, Taiwan organizations hold first talks in 9 years

    BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The chairmen of the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) on Thursday convened their first talks in nine years.

    ARATS chairman Chen Yunlin and SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kun started their talks at around 9 a.m. in Beijing.  Full story

Mainland, Taiwan agree on 36 weekend chartered flights

    BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland and Taiwan Friday agreed on starting weekend chartered flights across the Taiwan Straits.

    Chen Yunlin, chairman of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), and Chiang Pin-kun, chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) signed a minutes of talks on weekend chartered flights in Beijing. Full story