The ARATS chief Chen Yunlin shakes hands with Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation chairman Chiang Pin-kung at a Taipei hotel, November 3, 2008. Chen's visit marks the first ever meeting between leaders of the ARATS and SEF in Taiwan. [caijing.com.cn]

Since July 20, residents in the municipalities of Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai and the provinces of Liaoning, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Hubei, Guangdong, Chongqing, Yunnan and Shaanxi have been allowed to visit Taiwan in groups, under an agreement between the mainland and Taiwan.

Chen said tourism companies on both sides suggested that tourist groups traveling to Taiwan should be composed of at least five people, while the current rule was a minimum of 10.

He said the ARATS agreed with the suggestion, and hoped that with more chartered flights on week days, the number of mainland tourists to Taiwan could increase.

"We believe that with the efforts of both sides, direct links for transport and mail services that compatriots on both sides have been longing for over the past 30 years will become a reality," Chen said.

This would open a more convenient channel for cross-straits exchanges and economic cooperation and benefit people on both sides.

In June, the ARATS and the SEF held talks in Beijing and signed two agreements, almost 10 years after the suspension of talks.

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