He said he hoped the measures are not just "a flash in the pan" but could become long-term policies.

On Tuesday, Fu Dong-cheng, vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council in Taiwan, told reporters Taiwan and the mainland will work together to set up Taiwan bank and brokerage branches in China, but that the two sides will not establish a free trade pact in the first half of this year.

Fan said a comprehensive economic cooperation mechanism will benefit both sides and details will be discussed later this year.

She also said the government has approved a plan for a visit to Taiwan by 10,000 marketing staff from Amway Corp China, which will be the biggest ever tourist group from the mainland.

Companies from Taiwan are also encouraged to take part in the mainland's rural home appliance subsidy program, she said. The program, launched on February 1, is designed to boost consumer spending in rural areas.

(China Daily February 26, 2009)