The Chinese mainland is pressing ahead with the implementation of 10 newly released measures to boost exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, a mainland spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Data released by the National Immigration Administration shows that in the Q1 of this year, the number of mainland travel permits for Taiwan residents issued rose by 11.8% year on year, whilst the number of Taiwan visitors entering the mainland increased by 27.6% year on year.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference that the Democratic Progressive Party authorities should heed public opinion, remove various restrictions as soon as possible and eliminate obstacles to the normalization and regularization of cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation.

On April 12, the mainland unveiled a package of 10 policies and measures to boost exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, including promoting the resumption of individual travel to Taiwan for residents of Shanghai and Fujian, and facilitating the entry of food products from qualified Taiwan manufacturers into the mainland market.

(With input from Xinhua)