Mainland ready for direct shipments

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-11-2008 14:19

Direct shipping between China's mainland and Taiwan is scheduled to kick off next Monday. The change to direct sea transport across the Straits will save time and money.

The first harbors in the Mainland to be opened for direct  shipping will be Tianjin, Shanghai, Taicang and Fuzhou.

The first harbors in the Mainland to be opened for direct shipping will be Tianjin, Shanghai, Taicang and Fuzhou.

The Ministry of Transport says everything is ready.

Zhang Shouguo, deputy director of Water Transport Dept., Min. of Transport, said, "Ceremonies marking the beginning of the cross-strait direct shipping will take place in Tianjin, Shanghai, Taicang and Fuzhou next Monday. Now preparations are ready for the direct shipping."

A direct shipping agreement was reached at the meeting between the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation last Month.

Under the agreement, the mainland will open 48 ports on the sea and 15 situated on rivers while Taiwan will open 11 harbors.

Song Dexing, director of Taiwan Affairs Office, Min. of Transport, said, "In the past, merchants from Taiwan were allowed to invest in the mainland and set up branches of shipping companies here. But the agreement means our shipping firms are also able to establish branches in Taiwan."

Since 1949, ships have not been allowed to sail directly across the Straits.

The Ministry of Transport estimates that direct crossings will help shipping companies save over 30 percent of voyage time and one-hundred million US dollars in transportation costs.

Both sides agreed on equal participation and orderly competition in direct shipping, as shipping firms are keen to seize the opportunity to expand business.

Editor:Zhang Ning