First direct Taiwan cargo flight lands in mainland
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-07-20 09:43
The cargo flight was a result of the negotiations held a month ago between
civil aviation associations of both sides.
Under the agreement reached on June 14, air carriers across the Strait will
be allowed to transport equipment used by Taiwan-funded plants in Chinese
mainland.
The agreement also approved three more chartered passenger flight programs
during traditional Chinese festivals in addition to the Spring Festival flight,
which was launched in 2003.
"What we are expecting is the regular cargo and passenger flights, which will
greatly benefit businessmen and improve peoples' communications across the
Strait," said Chen.
Direct links have been cut for over 50 years across the Strait, while direct
air links have become an urgent issue facing the cross-Strait exchanges with the
development of economic and trade relations between the two sides.
The mainland has taken great efforts to push forward two-way and
comprehensive "three direct links" in mail, transport and trade across the
Strait, calling on Taiwan authorities to give up political concerns over the
issue.
"It is in favor of the fundamental interests of Chinese compatriots living on
the two banks to develop cross-strait economic ties with great efforts and
realize direct links of mail, trade and transport services across the strait as
early as possible, " Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told a Taiwan
delegation to study economic and trade issues on the mainland on Wednesday.
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