Chinese mainland residents will soon be able to travel freely to Taiwan and the mainland market will be open wider to fruit from the island province.

The mainland yesterday also offered a pair of giant pandas to Taiwan.

Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the offer of the pandas, known as national gems, was a symbol of peace, unity and friendship.

He was entrusted by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to make the announcement on the last day of the eight-day mainland tour by a Chinese Kuomintang Party delegation headed by KMT Chairman Lien Chan.

"For many years, mainland compatriots have wished to present giant pandas to Taiwan compatriots, and many Taiwan compatriots have repeatedly asked to see cuddly pandas in Taiwan too," Chen said in Shanghai before the delegation flew back to Taipei yesterday.

Chen said Lien's tour and a visit by People First Party leader James Soong will deepen the affection and affinity between Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

"We hope the pandas, with their tame nature, noble air and cuddly looks, will bring joy and laughter to the Taiwan compatriots, children in particular," he said.

"We hope Chairman Lien Chan and his KMT party, Chairman Soong and his PFP and all circles of Taiwan society will make joint efforts to facilitate acceptance of the donation."

Chen said departments will soon allow mainland residents to tour Taiwan.

"Removal of the travel ban will not just expand people-to-people contacts, but is also conducive to boosting Taiwan's tourism, food and beverage and other industries and will bring benefits to the general public in Taiwan as well," he said.

"For reasons known to all, the issue was long pending.

"The KMT and PFP have expressed on many occasions the Taiwan compatriots' desire for mainland residents to travel to Taiwan - the PFP has come up with specific proposals on this."

Chen said the mainland is working to develop into a regular practice the direct cross-strait charter flights which are now conducted on festivals and holidays. Statistics show Taiwan residents made 3.686 million trips to the mainland last year, up 34.9 percent over the previous year.

In the meantime, mainland residents made 145,000 trips to Taiwan, up 14.2 percent year-on-year.

Taiwan residents have made 33 million trips to the mainland since the Taiwan authorities gave them the green light in 1987.

But analysts say restrictions still exist in cross-strait personnel exchanges, mainly because the Taiwan authorities have refused to open the island province to mainland tourists and the Taiwan leader's attempt to seek "Taiwan independence" has also seriously hindered exchanges.

Chen yesterday also said the mainland will expand access of fruit produced in Taiwan to 18 species from the current 12 and offer zero tariff on at least 10 species.

"Taiwan's high-quality fruits have high economic value and are a major source of farmers' income," he said. "But difficulties in fruit sales caused by weather conditions, overproduction and problems in the distribution process often inflict heavy losses."

Chen said the CPC has reached consensus with the KMT and PFP to facilitate mainland sales of Taiwan fruit.

"The mainland is ready to provide convenience in terms of customs pass, inspection and quarantine for Taiwan fruit to access the mainland market," he said.

The biggest obstacle to the sale of Taiwan's farm produce on the mainland is the absence of direct flights.

Because Taiwan authorities ban direct flights across the strait, farm produce has to be transferred to the mainland via a third place, resulting in higher costs, longer shipping time and more risk.

Analysts say the price of Taiwan fruit and vegetables on the mainland could be cut more than 10 percent if they were shipped directly.