The Chinese mainland and Taiwan will start two-way postal remittance services for the first time in 60 years, a mainland official said in Beijing on Wednesday.

Fan Liqing, a spokeswoman of China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, didn't give an exact start date for the services, but Taiwan's Chunghwa Post Co. reported earlier that two-way services would begin mid-February.

"Post offices on the mainland and Taiwan are conducting technical tests and the service will start soon after the tests are done," said Fan.

Currently, due to technical reasons, Taiwan's post offices can provide services for money transfers bound for the mainland, but do not accept inward remittances from the mainland.

By early February, Taiwan's post offices had almost completed upgrades for the two-way transfer service, Fan said.

According to Taiwan media, all remittance transactions will be made in American dollars, with each transfer limited to 30,000 US dollars. Citibank New York will serve as the intermediary bank at the present stage.

Fan said after the start of two-way postal remittance services, the two sides will discuss the possibility of cross-strait mail orders and online order services.

The mainland and Taiwan signed a series of landmark agreements on direct air, sea and postal services last November in Taipei. Such direct links formally started on Dec. 15, last year.

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2009)