BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesman on Wednesday called on Taiwan to further remove barriers for mainland companies to invest in the island.

The investment from mainland companies will provide employment and increase tax revenue in Taiwan, said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference here.

Two-way investment is beneficial for both the mainland and Taiwan and will be positive for cross-Strait relations, Ma said.

The number of mainland investment projects approved by the Taiwan authorities reduced in 2014, partly because Taiwan suspended a cross-Strait agreement on service trade, he said. However, it was natural that growth returned to a moderate level after the soar in previous years, he said.

The mainland also expects to speed up the follow-up talks on the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), a cross-strait economic pact signed in 2010, and reach agreements as early as possible, he said.

"But, to be honest, whether we can do it or not depends on Taiwan," he said.

Currently, residents from 36 mainland cities are allowed to travel to Taiwan as independent tourists, with ten more mainland cities awaiting approval, Ma said the mainland will work to realize any move that is conducive to cross-Strait exchanges.