A helicopter rescues a victim during a joint search-and-rescue exercise held between coastal city Xiamen on the mainland and the island of Jinmen in Taiwan on Thursday, October 23, 2008. This is part of the first ever aero-amphibious search-n-rescue exercise held across the Straits since the opening of a direct shipping link between Xiamen and Jinmen.[Photo: Xinhua]

A joint across-the-Straits search-and-rescue exercise was held Thursday between Xiamen on the Chinese mainland and the island of Jinmen in Taiwan, Xinhua News Agency reported.

This is the first ever aero-amphibious search-and-rescue exercise held across the Taiwan Straits since a direct shipping link opened between Xiamen and Jinmen seven years ago.

The exercise was designed to test rescue agencys' ability to respond to any possible maritime emergencies.

Some 300 people joined the exercise, and more than forty transport vessels, including rescue ships and helicopters, were involved.