Beijing yesterday unveiled new rules to encourage the employment of people from Taiwan and ease their entry to the mainland.

At a regular news conference, He Zhijun, deputy director of the Bureau of Cross-Straits Exchanges at the Taiwan Affairs Office, said new plans will also be introduced to reduce tuition fees and set up special scholarships for Taiwanese students studying at mainland universities.

"All these measures that have been announced and will be taken are our solemn promise to Taiwan compatriots," He said. "We will actively carry them out."

The move came only two weeks after the mainland announced its formal decision to scrap import tariffs on 15 varieties of Taiwan-grown fruits and started the selection process for a pair of giant pandas to be presented to the island as goodwill gifts.

Liu Danhua, deputy director of the Department of Training and Employment under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, told reporters yesterday her ministry had revised regulations to help Taiwanese people pursue employment on the mainland.

The newly-revised Regulations on Employment of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao Residents in the Mainland was published on Tuesday and will come into effect on October 1. The regulations ease employment restrictions for Taiwan residents on the mainland, Liu said.

The rules also simplify employment procedures for Taiwan residents and ensure those who are hired by mainland employers can join the mainland social security system.

"Once their qualifications meet the requirements of mainland employers, Taiwan residents can enjoy the same employment rights as mainland residents," Liu told the press briefing.

But Taiwan residents need to obtain employment permits and qualification certificates for corresponding jobs before seeking employment on the mainland.

Li Changyou, deputy director of the Exit and Entry Administration under the Ministry of Public Security, explained some new policies to simplify entry/exit and residence application procedures for Taiwan compatriots.

Under a new policy to be implemented from July, Taiwan residents who stay on the mainland for more than one year can be issued residence stamps valid for one to five years.

Those who have the stamps do not need entry or exit stamps when passing through mainland customs. Those who stay less than a year on the mainland can be granted multiple-entry stamps and do not need residence stamps.

Li said that from October the public security departments of Shanghai and Jiangsu Province will be authorized to reissue a five-year "Taiwan Compatriot's Pass to the Mainland" to Taiwan residents.

Currently, only the public security department of Fujian Province and related departments in Hong Kong and Macao have the authority to issue the pass.

At yesterday's press conference, Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Li Weiyi hinted that the mainland is ready to talk with any private group or organization in Taiwan about direct cross-Straits cargo links and Taiwan's farm exports to the mainland.

(China Daily June 16, 2005)