A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Tuesday said mainland universities will enroll excellent students and athletes from Taiwan without requiring entrance examinations from candidates on recommendation.

Any of them can submit application and receive admission once they pass the assessment by the universities, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

According to Zhu, this will apply to the students in Taiwan who participate and receive awards in the International Science Olympiads in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Informatics. 

It also applies to athletes from Taiwan who rank among the top three in competitions in China's National Games, the Summer Asian Games, the Winter Asian Games, the Summer Olympic Games and the Winter Olympic Games. 

This is in line with a notice recently issued by the mainland on such recommended applications from students and athletes in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao as well as overseas Chinese.

(Cover: File photo of Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office. /Xinhua)