Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) President Chen Yunlin (front L) shakes hands with the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (front R) after signing four agreements on direct sea transport, direct flights, post service and food safety cooperation in Taipei of southeast China's Taiwan Province Nov. 4, 2008.(Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

The Chinese mainland and Taiwan agreed on Tuesday to allow civilian planes and ships to directly cross the Taiwan Straits.

The mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) president, Chen Yunlin, and Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman, Chiang Pin-kung, signed agreements on direct shipping and flights, postal services and food safety during their first summit in Taipei on Tuesday.

The agreements are expected to end a situation that has prevailed since 1949, under which air and sea movements between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan go through a third place.

As two main negotiating bodies of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, the ARATS and the SEF agreed to set up a direct air route between Shanghai and Taipei. They will continue negotiating another route linking the southern part of Taiwan with the mainland, said the agreement on direct flights.

Direct flight from Taipei to Shanghai is only about 80 minutes but, under current weekend charter flight arrangements, it takes two hours and 42 minutes as planes must fly over Hong Kong.

The two sides agreed to launch a cargo charter flight service between two mainland terminals, Pudong in Shanghai and Guangzhou airports, and two Taiwan ones, Taoyuan and Kaohsiung.

There will be 60 return cargo flights per month, evenly divided between mainland and Taiwan airline companies.

In addition, the two sides will launch regular passenger charter flights, instead of only at weekends and the four major traditional festivals.

The mainland agreed to open another 16 terminals for passenger charter flights, besides the five already opened, while Taiwan has already opened eight terminals.

The number of flights will increase to 108 every week, also divided evenly, with the number to be adjusted according to demand.

Under the weekend charter flight service adopted in June, 36 return flights were operated across the Taiwan Straits.

Under the agreement on direct shipping, passenger and cargo ships, owned by mainland and Taiwan companies registered in the mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong may sail directly across the Straits subject to official approval.

The mainland will open 63 ports to Taiwan ships while Taiwan will open 11. The two sides might increase the number of ports based on "developing situation," according to the agreement.

Ships should display their fleet flags only while in port.

The two sides will also set up a cooperative mechanism on salvage. "In the event of a shipwreck, both sides will inform each other speedily and arrange salvage operations," it said.

Shipping companies from both the mainland and Taiwan are allowed to set up representative offices and branches on both sides.

Under the agreement on direct post, mail services including letters and parcels, express mail services and postal remittances, will be available across the Straits and other forms of postal services will be strengthened.

Both sides across the Straits will provide each other with food safety updates and food trade information and establish a mechanism to deal with major food safety incidents.

"With the four agreements, direct transport and mail services that compatriots on both sides have been longing for over the past30 years have become a reality and will provide more convenient channels for cross-Straits economic exchanges," said Chen.

Chen and his counterpart Chiang also discussed issues such as increasing the number of mainland tourists to Taiwan, making joint efforts to deal with international financial crisis, and expanding economic exchanges across the Straits.

Chen said that the ARATS and the SEF would focus on discussions about cross-Straits financial collaboration in the next stage of talks, while expanding cultural and social exchanges would also be on the agenda.

He said the mainland was considering a plan to allow residents of the mainland to travel to Taiwan.

Since July 20, residents in the municipalities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing, and the provinces of Liaoning, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Hubei, Guangdong, Yunnan and Shaanxi have been allowed to visit Taiwan in groups, under an agreement between concerned authorities of the mainland and Taiwan.

Chen said tourism companies on both sides suggested that the tourist groups traveling to Taiwan should be composed of at least five people, while under the current rule, the minimum was 10.

He said that the ARATS agreed with the suggestion, and hoped that with increased chartered flights on weekdays, the mainland could further increase the number of tourists to Taiwan.

Chen said the mainland would send a pair of giant pandas as gifts to Taiwan by the end of this year. The other gift would be Nyssaceae seed, an endangered flowering plant that grows in Sichuan Province. He hoped that they would be sown in Taiwan soil.

On behalf of the ARATS, Chen would accept two rare animals from Taiwan. One is an indigenous goat with the scientific name of naemorhedus swinhoei, the other is a spotted deer.

Chen said he would carry the affection of the Taiwan people back to the mainland.

The Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (front, 2nd R) presents a gift to Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) President Chen Yunlin (front, 2nd L)at the agreement signing ceremony in Taipei of southeast China's Taiwan Province Nov. 4, 2008. Chen Yunlin and Chiang Pin-kung signed four agreements on direct sea transport, direct flights, mail service and food safety cooperation on Tuesday.(Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Editor: Yan