Brief history of the 'mini-links'
January 2001 Taiwan introduces the 'mini-three links' policy to allow direct trade, transport and postal links between two former defence outposts -Quemoy and Matsu - and the southern mainland cities of Xiamen and Fuzhou .
2002 Taiwan allows religious groups to use 'mini-three links' for pilgrimage activities.
2003 Businessmen allowed to use the two Taiwanese departure points to go to Xiamen or Fuzhou.
2004 Businessmen allowed to use the two locations to ship goods to and from all mainland ports instead of just Fujian . Duty-free shops allowed at port terminals in Quemoy and Matsu, and mainland tourists allowed to visit Quemoy and Matsu.
A total of 671,297 people travelled via the 'mini-three links' from 2001 to March 31 this year, compared with just 25,000 who made the trip during 2001.
