Beijing yesterday unveiled a series of new measures to facilitate cross-Straits exchanges and co-operation amid better relations between the mainland and Taiwan.

Wang Yi, minister of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, announced that mainland residents with permits to go to Taiwan will be able to travel to and from Taiwan through the islands of Jinmen, Mazu and Penghu.

Residents of 13 mainland provinces and municipalities can take tours to Taiwan Island via the three small islands under one of five new policies for cross-Straits travel.

Wang released these policies at a forum in Xiamen on the development of the Western Taiwan Straits Economic Zone.

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 mainland and Taiwan authorities.>> Full Article