Taiwan, China progress on talks over flights, tourists but no deal yet - Taiwan |
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Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:36
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TAIPEI (XFN-ASIA) - Taipei and Beijing have made progress in discussions for further relaxation on cross-strait charter flights and allowing more visitors from China to Taiwan for sightseeing purposes, but the two sides are yet to reach a consensus on details, a Taiwan official said.'We have made progress on some points, while others are yet to be discussed,' said an official from the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) that charts Taiwan's policy towards the mainland.'We hope agreement can be achieved soon but there is no timetable.'The issues being discussed include easing current rules that confine visitors from China to only those extending their travel from other areas, or mainland Chinese with overseas student or overseas permanent resident status.The two sides are also discussing whether to allow Taiwan and mainland tourists to take passenger charter flights. Current regulations permit airlines to take only Taiwan businesspeople and their families across the strait during major holidays.As for non-holiday flights, 'we are talking about charter flights during busiest times,' the MAC official said, noting the busiest time is usually weekends.Direct air links across the Taiwan Strait are barred at present, with non-stop charter flights required to fly over Hong Kong airspace.Frequent charter cargo flights are also on the discussion list, the Taiwan official said.adela.lin@afxasia.comal/rc
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Taiwan and mainland carriers to offer 96 cross-strait charter flights Feb 13-26 