Taipei - Taiwan will amend a law to allow Chinese students attend universities in Taiwan in line with President Ma Ying-jeou's plan to ease tension with Beijing, a newspaper said on Sunday.

The United Daily News quoted said the Mainland Affairs Council has submitted the revised bill on cross-strait ties to parliament, hoping it can be passed in the current session.

Under the revised bill, Taiwan will recognize China's diplomas and will allow Chinese students study to in Taiwan, the paper quoted council spokesman Liu Teh-hsun as saying.

In the first stage, Taiwan will allow mainland Chinese students attend Taiwan universities while setting an annual quota for the number of Chinese students and distribute the quota to various universities, he added.

If everything goes smoothly, the first batch of Chinese students will arrive in Taiwan in September 2009, he said.

When President Ma from the China-friendly Nationalist Party took office on May 20, he vowed to seek peace with China by expanding cross-strait exchanges and not to discuss Taiwan's seeking independence during his term.

Ma also suggested allowing Chinese students to study in Taiwan to improve understanding between the peoples of Taiwan and China.

Under the current Taiwan law, Chinese citizens are not allowed to visit Taiwan unless they are invited by Taiwan institutions, for family reunions or as part of group tours from China. (dpa)