Vehicles from Taiwan Travel in Fujian
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First private cars from Taiwan roll into mainland for visit
Tourists driving two Taiwan-registered private cars were allowed to travel in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Monday on the first leg of a four-day tour of the province, marking a breakthrough for cross-Straits travel. It was the first time that private cars carrying tourists were allowed from Taiwan to the Chinese mainland. The vehicles were taken to Xiamen aboard the ferry Cosco Star, which travels between Xiamen and Taiwan's Keelong. Eight tourists, all members of the Taiwan Self-Driving Tourism Association, received a briefing on mainland transportation regulations, provisional plates and provisional driving permits. First private cars from Taiwan roll into mainland for visit Three mainland cars carrying 12 Xiamen tourists, all of whom are members of the Xiamen Self-Driving Tourism Association, also joined the tour. The itinerary included scenic spots such as the Wuyuanwan yacht harbor in Xiamen; the Yongding Hakka earth buildings in Longyan, a UNESCO World Heritage site; and the Daixian waterfall in Quanzhou. Initiated by the two associations, the tour aimed to enhance cross-Straits cooperation regarding travel. On April 16, two Taiwan-registered trucks carrying goods from the island were transferred aboard cargo ships and taken to Pingtan, Fujian province. The vehicles were the first from Taiwan to be driven in Fujian. "This will lay a good foundation for personnel across the Straits in the tourism sector to conduct more self-driving tours on the mainland," said Zhu Guoan, president of the Xiamen association. "After the activity, cross-Straits tourism professionals will continue cooperating with each other to create a mechanism to welcome more Taiwan-registered private cars and more Taiwan self-driving tourists." Kong Shuguang, director of the Xiamen Tourism Bureau, said the tour showcased Xiamen's pioneering role in cross-Straits cooperation. Because Xiamen serves as an important section of the Fujian free trade zone, which has focused on deepening cross-Straits cooperation since it was launched on April 21, the local government has been working on policies to streamline entry and exit procedures for Taiwan-registered vehicles, Kong said.
China mulls letting Taiwanese vehicles drive on its roads
A Chinese official on Sunday was quoted as saying that Taiwanese-registered vehicles could be allowed to travel on Chinese roads in the first half of this year at the earliest. Such vehicles are only allowed to travel on Pingtan Island in China’s Fujian Province at present. The new measure reportedly would allow drivers to proceed from Pingtan to China proper. Fujian Communications Department Director Zhang Zhaomin (張兆民) was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying that his department has proposed a set of regulations governing plate management, insurance and other related matters. Once the proposal has been approved, Taiwanese visitors, tour groups and families would be able to drive their own cars or buses to China via Pingtan, where they would have to change to China-issued plates, Zhang said. The measure could be expanded to cover trucks, so that Taiwanese companies could transport their products directly to China, he said, adding that Xiamen and other coastal cities could be added to the list of such open ports. Fujian authorities have over the past few years been calling on Taiwan to announce reciprocal measures without getting any response from the Mainland Affairs Council. The council in January said that it was not considering allowing Chinese vehicles on the nation’s roads, calling China’s permission for Taiwanese vehicles on Pingtan Island a “unilateral” policy. Chinese vehicles would be given permits to travel in Taiwan only in “special cases,” such as for disaster relief, trade shows and tests for research and development purposes, the council said.
Fujian province looks to investment from Taiwan
HOME >> POLICIES >> POLICY WATCH Fujian province looks to investment from Taiwan SUN LI/HU MEIDONG Updated: Apr 21,2015 10:05 AM China Daily A free trade zone in Fujian province will help attract further investment from Taiwan and boost sectors such as communication, transportation and tourism. According to a provincial government official, the FTZ, which was approved in December by the State Council, will start on April 21 and include the cities of Xiamen and Fuzhou, and the county of Pingtan. The zone will allow more investment from Taiwan into industries such as communication, transportation and tourism, said Zheng Shanjie, vice-governor of Fujian, at a news conference in Beijing on April 20. Within the blueprint of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, a comprehensive cross-Straits economic pact signed in 2010, investment thresholds will be lowered to the Taiwanese business community. “Equity ratio restrictions will be loosened for Taiwan-funded companies in certain sectors and (they) will be allowed to engage in more business fields,” Zheng said. “The Fujian FTZ will help the province retain its pioneering role in cross-Straits financial cooperation by facilitating business exchanges in terms of cross-border renminbi trade settlement services.” Further policies to allow Taiwanese business people to travel or stay in Fujian are also being put in place. “Policies concerning the recruitment of experts from Taiwan in the FTZ are being worked on,” Zheng said. On April 16, two Taiwan-registered trucks carrying goods from the island were transferred aboard cargo ships and taken to Pingtan. This was the first time that vehicles carried goods from Taiwan to Fujian. Wang Jinzu, an official with the administrative committee of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, said private cars and coaches will also be allowed to go to Pingtan.
Knowledge Graph
Examples
1 China's authorities will permit Taiwan's cars to drive on the mainland, the Hong Kong-based Wenhuipo reported.
2 Staff members of the Pingtan vehicle administration office verified the identification of car owners and issued them each with temporary license plates and driving licenses.
3 Pingtan has made it easy for Taiwan-licensed cars to run on the mainland through issuing temporary credentials