(News from Qingdao Daily) the mainland and Taiwan launched daily direct passenger flights, shipping routes and postal services yesterday, which symbolized the realization of direct communication between mainland and Taiwan, according to agreement reached by the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF). As a port city of the direct passenger flight and a harbor of shipping route, Qingdao is making all-out attempts to implement the initiatives.

    According to the information from Qingdao Municipal Taiwan Affairs Office, direct passenger flight between Qingdao by Shandong Airline since December 26 and Taipei will be twice per week i.e. every Tuesday and Friday. The initial time schedule is 16:45-19:15 Qingdao- Taipei; 20:20-22:50 Taipei- Qingdao. It is learned that the direct flight from Qingdao to Taiwan can save at least 4 hours compared with the previous flight from Qingdao to Taiwan via Hong Kong. By now, the preparation of direct flight is almost ready, the debut flight will take off at 15:00 o'clock on December 26 from Qingdao.

    In aspect of direct postal service, by now, Qingdao is not listed as the city of direct postal service, but after the direct postal service is open between the mainland and Taiwan, the regular mail, package between Qingdao and Taiwan will be sent directly to Taiwan via Beijing instead of Hong Kong. Now the express mail service can reach within 3~5 days, 1 ~2 days shorter. In accordance with the new postage standard, the added weight cost of the express mail between Qingdao and Taiwan is 25% lower than before, for example, the charge for every 500g is reduced from 40 RMB to 30 RMB. The express charge for documents like goods within 500g is 90 RMB; for materials is 130RMB with weight limitation of 30kg. the tariff standard for regular package from Qingdao to Taiwan is 99.5RMB for air package within 1000g, 21 RMB for every kg added; 89.5RMB for waterway package within 1000g, 5 RMB for every 1kg added; the above package is limited to package within 30kg.

    In aspect of the shipping route, Qingdao Harbor Affairs Bureau is coordinating with cargo liners between Qingdao and Taiwan to make full preparations, and the shipping route between Qingdao and Taiwan can start after notification from relevant authority. The direct shipping linkage between Qingdao and Taiwan cannot only greatly reduce the maritime transportation cost, about 10% ~ 35% of the cost of the regular container liner but also the shipping time of 2.5 days to 3 days.