(From L to R) Chen Yunlin, president of the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, Li Shenglin, Chinese minister of communications, Lien Chan, Kuomintang honorary chairman, Zhang Gaoli, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chief of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee, Zheng Wantong, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Wang Yi, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council (Cabinet), attend the ceremony marking the start of direct sea transport between China's mainland and Taiwan in north China's Tianjin port, Dec. 15, 2008. The Chinese mainland and Taiwan started direct air and sea transport and postal services Monday morning. (Xinhua/Liu Haifeng)  Photo Gallery>>>

In pictures: Cross-strait "direct links" start Monday>>>

    BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Direct air and sea shipping and postal services between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan would bring people on both sides of the strait closer, a mainland spokesman said Wednesday.

    Direct routes would not only bring about direct economic benefits, but make cross-Strait interaction easier, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Li Weiyi said during a press conference.

    Cross-strait direct air and sea shipping and postal services began Monday amid warming ties, ending a 59-year ban on such direct routes.

    Formerly, air and sea shipping and mail had to detour through Hong Kong.

    The "three direct links" came after the two sides signed a series of landmark agreements last month in Taipei.

Mainland-bound direct flight takes off from Taipei

     TAIPEI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- A passenger plane of Taiwan-based TransAsia Airways took off from Taipei Songshan Airport for Shanghai at 8:06 a.m. on Monday, starting the direct air transport from Taiwan to the Chinese mainland.  Full story

Chinese mainland, Taiwan start direct postal service

    TAIPEI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Wu Min-yu, chairman of the Taiwan-based Chunghwa Post Co. Ltd., sent out a letter to Liu Andong, president of the Chinese mainland's China Post Corporation, on 9:17 a.m. (1:17 GMT), marking the start of direct postal service between the two sides.   Full story

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-Jeou witnesses launch of direct shipping service to Chinese mainland 

    TAIPEI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan leader Ma Ying-Jeou on Monday said direct transport and postal services across the Taiwan Straits symbolized reconciliation between the island and the Chinese mainland.

    At a ceremony in south Taiwan's Kaosiung port, Ma expressed the hope that the two sides could work together for common peace and prosperity after the direct transport and postal services started.  Full story

Passengers from southeast China's Taiwan gesture before boarding the plane at the airport in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 15, 2008. A 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) Photo Gallery>>>

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]