BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson Wednesday said that Taiwan compatriots can buy commercial houses and rent public rental houses on the mainland according to policies.

Zhu Fenglian, the spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to a request to explain a measure stipulating that Taiwan compatriots holding residence permits to the mainland enjoy equal treatment with mainland residents in terms of qualification for purchasing houses.

The measure is one of the "26 measures" unveiled by the mainland last month to further promote economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait.

Besides buying houses, Taiwan compatriots can also rent public rental houses on the mainland, Zhu said, noting that Taiwan compatriots enjoy the same application qualifications as mainland peers when renting the 300 public rental houses specialised for Taiwan young people in Shanghai.

Multiple cities on the mainland have offered public rental houses for Taiwan compatriots, Zhu said, adding that a total of 1,000 apartments are open for application to Taiwan compatriots in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province.