Taiwanese Trade Delegation Arrives Via Direct Kiamen-Kinmen Sea Link

00-01-01 00:00　source: Network Team

　　The first Taiwanese delegation which traveled to Xiamen through the direct Xiamen-Kinmen shipping link for the 9th China Xiamen Machinery & Electronics Exhibition arrived at 3 PM yesterday. The elegation, organized by the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA), consists of four members, is here to attend the 9th CXMEE co-organized by the TEEMA.
　
Our staff reporter interviewed Mr. Su Wentong, a member of the delegation, at Heping Wharf, Xiamen. Mr. Su said that Xiamen and Taiwan close neighbors but previously people from Taiwan’s business community had to take a roundabout way via Hong Kong to come to Xiamen, which was a waste of time and energy. But now he feels very good about the trip from Kinmen to Xiamen. Mr. Su says that this is his third trip to the CXMEE, where he will display his new electric condenser.
　　
According to Li Liuquan, spokesman of the CXMEE, with joint efforts of the orgainizing committee of the CXMEE and the TEEMA as well as port authorities, the TEEMA presented the “CXMEE Direct Sail Scheme” to Taiwan’s Council on Mainland Affaris again this year and eventually obtained an approval for the scheme. Li says that this represents another significant achievement in the promotion of trade and economic cooperations across Taiwan Strait.
　　
Under the regulations of the Taiwanese authorities, only Taiwanese compatriots with Kinmen residency and Taiwanese businesspeople with investment in the mainland are allowed to sail directly to the Chinese mainland through Kinmen. Earlier, cultural, religious, health and press delegations from Taiwan have sailed to Xiamen directly through Kinmen, but not a trade delegation.
　
It’s reported that during the 5th CXMEE in 2001, the TEEMA and World Trade Center Taichung submitted a joint application to the Taiwanese authorities for direct shipment of attendees and exhbits to Xiamen via Kinmen. But the application was not approved until shortly before the CXMEE this year.
　
It’s predicated that with the direct sail of the TEEMA delegation to Xiamen via Kinmen, more Taiwanese businesspeople will come to attend the CXMEE via the direct Xiamen-Kinmen sea link this year than previous years.