China-Taiwan historic flights launched

The resumption of regular direct air services after six decades marked a “new start” in relations between mainland China and Taiwan, said Wang Yi, director of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, in Beijing.

“Today is a new start in the history of exchanges between the two sides,” he said.

Wang said the tourists on board the flights brought “profound friendship to the people of Taiwan.”

“At present, cross Strait relations are facing a rare opportunity for development,” Wang said.

“We must increase direct exchanges between people on both sides of the Strait and also increase mutual understanding.”

The ties between the two rivals across the Taiwan Strait have improved markedly since the election of Ma Ying-jeou as new president by Taiwanese voters.

Ma, who has abandoned the pro-independence rhetoric of his predecessor Chen Shui-bian that infuriated China, is pushing ahead on more pragmatic issues for the well-being of the people by shelving more controversial problems.

New aims

The new government led by Ma aims to eventually extend the weekend-only flights to a daily service to help turn Taiwan into a transport hub in Asia as well as prop up the island’s economy.

The plan was stalled by Chen for eight years.

For upcoming talks with Beijing, officials here will also push for the inauguration of direct cargo flight service and straighten the flight routes to save time and fuel costs.

Allowing passenger gets to carry certain cargoes on the plane will help reduce the people’s financial burden, they believe.

Thousands of Taiwanese have invested in China, setting up high-tech, textile and other factories to take advantage of lower labor costs.

In recent weeks, Taiwan has taken a number of other initiatives that could help economic integration of the two sides, including currency exchanges with the mainland and easing control on mutual funds investing in China-listed stocks.

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