China should relax travel restrictions to Taiwan: MAC chairman

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on January 5, 2007. It reports that according to the Mainland Affairs Council, China should speed up bilateral negotiations on a full opening of Chinese tourist visits to Taiwan.

According to the Mainland Affairs Council, a full opening to tourists from China is an established policy. However, there is no definite timetable for implementing the policy. It is hoped that China will return to the negotiating table to continue negotiations over the issue as soon as possible.

The government in Taiwan has finalized its basic negotiation framework. Indeed, it has been the government's desire that around 1,000 Chinese tourists can come to Taiwan every day. This will not only boost Taiwan's economy, but also enable Chinese citizens to gain a better understanding of Taiwan.

According to the Mainland Affairs Council, allowing exchange services for China's currency (the yuan) in Taiwan proper is closely connected to the government's open-door policy toward Chinese tourists. In other words, a legitimate channel for currency exchange between the Chinese and Taiwanese currencies is indispensable.

Under China's relevant regulations and Taiwan's revised statutes governing relations between the peoples of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, each Chinese visitors is allowed to bring RMB20,000 (US$2,560) into Taiwan.

At present, Taiwan permits a small number of Chinese tourists, but only allow the yuan exchange on a trial basis on the two outlying islands if Kinmen and Matsu.