Source: CCTV.com
12-15-2008 11:43
Special Report: Three Links Across TaiwanThe Chinese mainland and Taiwan have begun landmark direct air and sea transportation as well as direct postal services. At 7:20 on Monday morning, a passenger plane operated by Shenzhen Airlines took off from the southern mainland city of Shenzhen for Taiwan. The move marks an end to the practice that air and sea transport between the two sides had to go through a third place.
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| Working staff wave to the plane leaving for southeast China's Taiwan, at the airport in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 15, 2008. The Shenzhen Airlines flight took off from the Shenzhen Airport for Taiwan at 7:20 Beijing Time (2320 GMT Dec. 14), the first when the Chinese mainland and Taiwan started direct air and sea transport and postal services Monday morning. (Xinhua Photo) |
Around eight o'clock this morning, a ceremony for direct air transport between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan island was held in eastern mainland's Shanghai City to witness the historic moment.
At eight o'clock, A plane operated by Eastern Airlines departed Pudong Airport in Shanghai for Taoyuan Airport in Taipei. There were 150 passengers aboard that plane. Also at about eight o'clock, a passenger plane of Taiwan-based TransAsia Airways took off from Taipei Songshan Airport for Shanghai. That is the first passenger plane operated by Taiwan to fly directly to the Chinese mainland.
Direct shipping transport and postal services across the Taiwan Strait also started Monday. Twin ceremonies at Taiwan's port of Kaohsiung and the Mainland northern port of Tianjin marked the beginning of direct shipping services.
Six mainland ports are also ready for direct shipping links to open. Transport, maritime and border security authorities are ready to provide services.
Chen Nengmin, Fuzhou Inspection & Quarantine Dep't said "We have arranged a special pass for direct shipping across the Taiwan Strait. Priority will be given for declaration, inspection, quarantine checks and paperwork approvals."
Another ceremony at Beijing's airport opened the postal route. As of Monday, mainland's residents can enjoy direct postal services to Taiwan in eight cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. The move will cut mailing time by a half.
Wang Yuci, Deputy Director of State Post Bureau said "Previously we could only operate correspondence services and some express services via the third places. Next we will operate parcel and express mail services as well as money exchange service."
Experts have said the realization of direct links is a breakthrough in the cross-Strait relations. And it will greatly boost cross-strait trade and civilian exchanges.
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Editor:Xiong Qu
