Taipei  - Taiwan plans to allow its government officials, military personnel and state enterprise executives to visit China in view of eased cross-strait tension, a newspaper reported Saturday.

The China Times quoted Premier Liu Chao-shiuan as saying that Taipei will soon lift the ban on officials, state enterprise executives and military personnel visiting China.

"The Interior Ministry and the Mainland Affairs Council have reached the consensus. Within a short time, they will revise the law to allow officials, military personnel and state enterprise executives to visit China," the paper quoted him as saying.

Taiwan and China have been split since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Since the 1980s, Taiwan has allowed its citizens to visit China for family reunions, sightseeing and trade but has still barred officials, military personnel and state enterprise executives from visiting China, citing national security concerns.

Currently, Taiwan officials and state enterprise executives can visit China only if invited by international organizations to attend international events in China, such as the Beijing Olympics or international seminars. (dpa)