More than 2.6 million passengers have traveled between the
Chinese mainland and Taiwan Province via two major sea routes
launched seven years ago, local authorities said on Wednesday.
The Xiamen-Jinmen route has transported more than 2.44 million
people since it started operation on January 2, 2001. More than
670,000 passengers made round trips via the route in 2007.
A total of 20 ships operate between Xiamen of Fujian Province
and Jinmen of Taiwan Province every day, according to the frontier
inspection station of Xiamen city in the eastern coastal
province.
A total of 102 sickened or injured passengers have been
transported via an emergency aid service by the route to the
mainland and Taiwan for medical treatment over the past seven
years.
The Mawei-Mazu sea route, which also welcomed its seventh
anniversary of operation on Wednesday, has been used by 170,000
passengers.
Six ferries are serving on the route and the passenger flow
increased by 79 percent annually, according to the frontier
inspection station of Fuzhou, the provincial capital.
The third sea route was opened in June 2006 to link Quanzhou of
Fujian to Jinmen, but the current passenger flow is minor compared
with the other two routes.
The three direct shipping routes have become so-called golden
traffic lines between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan Province.
Cross-Strait charter flights are in service for major Chinese
traditional festivals of the Lunar New Year, the Mid-Autumn
Festival, the Duanwu Festival and the Qingming Festival.
The mainland has been calling for the realization of "three
direct links" -- direct trade, transport and mail services across
the Straits.
(Xinhua News Agency January 3, 2008)