Mainland shipping authorities yesterday unveiled a nine-point plan to boost direct maritime links with Taiwan.
The measures include opening up five new ports to cross-strait trade, increasing investment in onshore infrastructure and strengthening communication with Taiwanese authorities, said Song Dexing, director of the Ministry of Transport's Department of Water Transport. Mr Song was speaking in Xiamen , Fujian province, following a roundtable discussion with industry representatives on the opening day of the Straits Forum, a week-long conference aimed at fostering business and cultural links between Taiwan and the mainland.
The new ports - Tongling in Anhui province; Shidao and Laizhou in Shandong province; and Taizhou Damaiyu and Ningbo-Zhoushan in Zhejiang province - bring the total number of harbours authorised for cross-strait shipping to 68.
Direct shipping between Taiwan and the mainland resumed last December along with postal and daily direct flights - the other two 'big links' - a sign of the blossoming relations between Taipei and Beijing over the past year.
However, the nine measures also include the recommendation for 'reasonable' restrictions on the increase of shipping capacity according to the needs of the market in case 'blind growth creates unhealthy competition'.
The agreement also includes measures to facilitate ship registration and tax breaks for Taiwan shippers. In addition to the agreement, Mr Song also highlighted untapped tourism potential across the strait. 'We hope that the region can become a tourist attraction known throughout Asia,' he said. 'To date, there is not a single company which offers a cruise linking all three regions of Hong Kong, Taiwan and the mainland.'