The mainland hopes to see a non-governmental travel organization set up and operating in Taiwan as soon as possible, an official in charge of Taiwan affairs said in Beijing on Sunday.

The spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council told Xinhua that the mainland's policy has been to promote trips to Taiwan by mainland tourists.

The spokesman said that the policy reflects a consensus reached by the Communist Party of China and Taiwan-based Kuomintang Party.

"We have been promoting this development in an active, pragmatic manner. Many people from Kuomintang and Taiwan tourism circles have come to the mainland to consult with us," the spokesman said.

The spokesman urged Taiwan authorities to take a pragmatic attitude and allow a Taiwan non-governmental travel service to start talks with the mainland's Cross-Strait Tourism Exchange Association (CSTEA).

The mainland authorized civilian tours of the island in May last year. In November, after a mainland tourism inspection delegation visited the island province, the mainland authorized the CSTEA to negotiate with Taiwan on travel services for mainlanders.

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2006)