Chinese mainland urges DPP authorities to lift travel restrictions on mainland residents

BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday called on Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to remove restrictions on travel by mainland residents to Taiwan at an early date.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks in response to the Taiwan authorities' decision to reject applications from tourism operators in Shanghai Municipality and Fujian Province to conduct preparatory visits to Taiwan. The decision has drawn criticism from tourism operators and industry groups on the island.