China will allow Taiwan companies to invest in its transport sector as part of new policies to promote economic, trade and cultural exchanges with the island.
The forum, co-sponsored by the Communist Party of China and the Chinese Kuomintang Party, Taiwan’s major opposition party, was attended by about 500 business executives and officials from the mainland and the island.
Under the promotion plan, Taiwan companies will be encouraged to invest in the construction and operation of ports and highways on the mainland.
Shipping and road transport companies from Taiwan will be able to set up wholly owned companies or joint ventures on the mainland to provide logistics services, such as container transport and cargo warehousing.
Taiwan shipping companies engaged in direct passenger transport between coastal cities in Fujian and Jinmen and Mazu and Penghu in Taiwan will also be allowed to set up ticket agencies in Fujian.
The mainland also promised to amend its laws and regulations to extend cross-strait cooperation in civil aviation, such as allowing Taiwan aviation companies to set up joint venture airlines on the mainland and build airports with mainland partners.
The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China said Chengdu, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Dalian and Guilin will gradually become new destinations for non-stop charter flights.
However, no schedule was announced for when the new policies would go into effect.
Source: Shanghai Daily