Others News
- Chinese official calls for closer transport ties across Strait
Date: 31-May-2007 Sources: (Xinhua Online)
A Chinese mainland transport official on Wednesday called for closer transport ties between the mainland and Taiwan and urged Taiwan authorities to remove obstacles as soon as possible.
'Taiwan enterprises want to directly invest in the construction of mainland road and water infrastructure, so we hope Taiwan authorities can remove the ban soon,' said Song Dexing, director of the waterway transportation department under the Ministry of Communications.
Taiwan companies must currently invest in mainland port and road construction through joint ventures as large scale direct investment was still prohibited by Taiwan authorities, Song told a press conference.
The ministry released policies encouraging Taiwan enterprises to make direct investment on the mainland last month at the high-level cross-Strait forum on economic, trade and cultural exchanges, he said.
'As Taiwan shipping companies engaged in direct passenger transport between Fujian's coastal cities and Jinmen, Mazu and Penghu in Taiwan have already been exempted from relevant tax on the mainland, we hope Taiwan authorities will issue similar measures to smooth cross-Strait exchanges,' Song said.
He also expressed the hope that direct shipping routes operated between Fujian's coastal cities and Jinmen and Mazu would be strengthened so as to gradually promote an overall direct shipping across the Taiwan Strait.
Song said a group of Taiwan sailors had received training in designated mainland organizations.
Song said the mainland was 'happy to see' more Taiwan sailors and divers undergo the training to help expand employment prospects and promote sustainable development of Taiwan's shipping sector.
He said the mainland government would further open the transport market to Taiwan shipping and road transport companies.
Taiwan companies are allowed to set up wholly-owned companies on the mainland offering shipping, cargo, storage, ship management or vehicle maintenance services, Song said.
They can also set up joint ventures with mainland counterparts in international shipping agency and road transport services, he added.
'Taiwan shipping companies engaged in direct passenger transport between Fujian and Taiwan have been authorized to set up ticket agencies in Fujian,' Song said, noting the mainland partially opened the shipping market to Taiwan more than ten years ago.
To date, Taiwan shipping firms have set up seven companies and 67 shipping agencies on the mainland, according to Song.
'Quite a few Taiwan shipping business people believe the measures have created a sound environment for Taiwan companies to invest and participate in the mainland shipping sector,' Song said.
He hoped Taiwan would open its market to mainland companies, which would be conducive to the development of cross-Strait economic relations, and bring new employment opportunities.
Direct transport links between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan were cut after the civil war in the late 1940s.
After years of negotiations, progress has been made in re-establishing direct transportation between the mainland and Taiwan.
In 2001, the coastal province of Fujian opened a direct ferry service with Jinmen and Mazu. In 2006, a third direct shipping route was opened between Fujian's Quanzhou and Jinmen.
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