BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland plans to send more senior provincial officials to visit Taiwan this year after sending three in 2009, a spokesperson said here Wednesday.

Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular press conference visits by provincial heavyweights last year have deepened economic cooperation, boosted cultural exchanges across the Strait and benefited local people.

Two party chiefs and a government head from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jiangsu and Henan Provinces led delegations to Taiwan last year.

Liang Baohua, chief of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) provincial committee in Jiangsu, was the first provincial-level party chief to visit Taiwan.

Fan did not say how many officials or when they will visit the island, adding that the mainland will have discussions with Taiwan.

In addition, she confirmed that the CPC and the Kuomintang will continue to sponsor the annual Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum this year.

The event has been an important platform for the two parties and for people from different walks of life, she said.

"The two sides are still exchanging ideas about where and when to hold the event," Fan said.

Last year's forum, held in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan province, on July 11 and 12, focused on culture.

Fan also told the press conference three mainland media groups have applied to send reporters to Taiwan and that she hopes they will be approved by the island as soon as possible.

Currently, five central level mainland media groups and two media organizations from coastal Fujian Province have posted reporters on the island.