Chinese mainland, Taiwan start landmark direct air and sea links

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-15-2008 14:18

The Chinese mainland and Taiwan have begun landmark direct air and sea links. The transport deals were signed after talks in June and November. The move brings to an end the nearly 60 year practice of air and sea transportation between the two sides, which involved routing through a third place.

Passengers from southeast China's Taiwan gesture before  boarding the plane at the airport in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 15, 2008. A Shenzhen Airlines flight took off from the Shenzhen Airport for Taiwan at 7:20 Beijing  Time (2320 GMT Dec. 14), the first when the Chinese mainland  and Taiwan started direct air and sea transport and postal  services Monday morning.(Xinhua Photo)

It's been long anticipated on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and now - finally - it's a reality.

A passenger airplane operated by China Eastern Airlines took off from Shanghai on the east coast of China's mainland at eight o'clock on Monday morning and headed for Taipei.

Minutes later, a TransAsia Airways passenger plane left Taipei for Shanghai.

Their departures marked the formal launch of this direct flight route across the Strait.