Increasingly convenient communication, closer economic and cultural bonds and growing mutual trust between people on both sides of the straits will enhance their common national and cultural identity.

The author is director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Agreement Highlights

Chen Yunlin, President of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and Chiang Pin-kung, Chairman of Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation, signed agreements on direct air, shipping and postal services and food safety cooperation during their summit in Taipei on November 4.

Direct Flights

--The two sides agree 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.

-Regular passenger charter flights across the Taiwan Straits will be launched, instead of only at weekends and four major traditional festivals (Spring Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival).

--The mainland agrees to open another 16 terminals for passenger charter flights, besides the five already opened (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen and Nanjing), while Taiwan has already opened eight terminals (Taipei Taoyuan, Taipei Songshan, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Penghu, Hualien, Kinmen and Taitung).

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

Direct Sea Transportation

-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 the developing situation.

--The two sides will set up a cooperative mechanism on salvage.

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

Direct Postal Service

--Mail services including letters and parcels, express mail services and postal remittances will be available across the Taiwan Straits and other forms of postal services will be strengthened.

Food Safety

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

Source: Xinhua News Agency