Taiwan "Legislative Yuan" leader Wang Jin-pyng Sunday urged authorities to open the island's educational institutions to mainland students, Taiwan media have reported.

The declining birth rate means that many of the island's universities and colleges will face a shortage of students, Wang, "president of the Legislative Yuan" of Taiwan, was quoted as saying.

If authorities fail to explore the educational market, many of Taiwan's private schools will find it hard to survive, Wang said at a recent seminar on education in Taipei.

Wang said the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao share the same cultural background. Each of them has certain educational advantages so exchanges among them will be very useful.

The Chinese mainland began to enroll students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in 1985. The number of mainland colleges and universities enrolling students from these regions has risen from seven in 1985 to 120 this year.

Currently, more than 20,000 students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are studying in mainland colleges and universities.

Source: Xinhua