China, Taiwan working on regular flights

The unprecedented commercial flights come as a result of a supplementary cross-strait agreement on air transport signed between the two sides, which replaces existing daily charter flights with regular commercial services.

The mainland will also work with industry insiders in Taiwan to boost tourism to its outlying islands, and will support efforts to compile a cross-strait Chinese dictionary.

The comments were made at a press conference held in Beijing yesterday by Fan Liqing, spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO). Fan pointed out that much work still needed to be done on the expanded air services deal, which goes into effect on June 26.

Civil aviation authorities were liasing with the Taiwanese side on matters such as air traffic control, flight routes and timetables, and other commercial arrangements. She pointed out that closer cooperation would be required between the two sides as regular commercial flights differ from charter flights, and the number of flights between the sides will be greatly increased.

In relation to air fares, she remarked that fares were set by airlines according to market conditions.

When asked about the mainland's attitude towards the construction of casinos on Penghu, islands belonging to Taiwan in the middle of the Taiwan Strait, Fan pointed out that the mainland forbid its tourists from organizing or participating in gambling trips overseas. However, the mainland would work with the travel industry in Taiwan through the Cross-Straits Tourism Exchange Association to promote the natural beauty of Penghu and Taiwan's other offshore islands.

Support for a Cross-Strait Chinese Dictionary

Responding to suggestions by academics from both sides of the strait that a cross-strait Chinese dictionary be compiled, Fan said that the TAO was fully supportive of such efforts, as the usage of many terms continued to differ on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

She said that such a dictionary would be helpful in light of the increasingly frequent exchanges between the two sides, and would be a useful tool for all Chinese.

Asked whether the creation of this dictionary would be a topic for discussion at the fifth cross-strait economic and cultural forum, a forum organized by the Chinese Communist and Nationalist parties, Fan said that anything related to cultural or educational exchanges is open for discussion. The forum will take place between July 10 and 12 in Changsha, Hunan.

Kinmen Youth Groups to go on Mainland Exchange

The Junior Chamber International and Kinmen Youth Foundation, two youth groups based in Kinmen, will lead a hundred youths to participate in the fourth cross-strait youths festival, to be held between July 17 and 21 in Fuzhou and Taining in Fujian province.

The trip is meant to serve as an opportunity for exchange between youths on the two sides, and the five day, four nights tour will take participants to major attractions in Fuzhou and Taining, including a UNESCO Geopark located there.

Any person aged between eighteen and thirty from Taiwan can apply. The trip costs NT$3,400 and includes the boat fare from Kinmen to Fujian, accommodation and food, and travel insurance. Applicants who are admitted on grounds that they have a special talent will enjoy a discounted price of NT$2,900. The application deadline is June 30.

Those interested should call 0980262989 or 0982640287.

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