The move to resume direct talks between China and Taiwan for improving relations between the two sides has given textile industrialists a ray of hope particularly because the dialogue is expected to focus on direct transportation links besides attracting tourists from China to Taiwan. They hope that Beijing's proposal to allow 18 cross-strait charter flights every weekend could eventually lead to direct cargo flights which would drastically cut cost of shipping products or raw materials by air. It could also pave the way for shipping service across the straits. At present, only charter flights are allowed between Taiwan and the mainland, that too only during four important holiday periods. They carry almost exclusively Taiwanese businesspeople and their dependents residing on the mainland. Increasing the Beijing proposed number of charter flights and allowing direct cargo flights are certainly likely to be treated by both sides as top priority issues.
展开▼
