The Chinese mainland introduced a package of preferential policies on June 17 in the areas of the economy, science, culture and education to strengthen ties with Taiwan.

Four banking institutions from the mainland, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of China, China Construction Bank and China Development Bank, will offer credit of 600 billion yuan ($94.41 billion) to Taiwanese-invested businesses in the mainland, said Wang Yi, Minister of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at the Fourth Straits Forum in the southeastern coastal city of Xiamen, Fujian Province.

The mainland will also open the market to rice imports from Taiwan, Wang said.

The new policies also include further easing employment restrictions for Taiwanese students and residents on the mainland. Taiwanese residents will be allowed to apply for a teacher's certificate at mainland colleges and universities.

The mainland will increase the number of Taiwanese tour operators on the mainland and expand the range of personal travel.

To deepen scientific cooperation, the National Natural Science Foundation of China will launch a "union fund of promoting scientific cooperation across the straits" with Fujian, according to Wang.

All natural science research programs across the Taiwan Straits can apply for money from the fund, which will have an annual investment of 30 million yuan ($4.72 million), he said.