Shippers, ports, carriers call for more mainland-Taiwan ties services

PORT and shipping notables meeting at a China-Taiwan forum in Taipei called for more cooperation and exchanges to enhance the competitiveness on both sides, reports Xinhua.

The forum drew over 100 delegates from port and shipping industry from the mainland and Taiwan. China Ports and Harbours Association (CPHA) vice chairman Yingming Chen said shipping services on both sides had improved significantly since the direct links were opened in 2008.

There are now 29 direct container services and seven direct passenger transport lines across the strait, with 85 ports opening up of which 72 ports in mainland and 13 in Taiwan. The collective cargo volume from both sides has hit 250 million tonnes and passenger volume has exceeded 5.5 million persons as of the end of June 2012.

Mr Yingming said economic development on the mainland and in Taiwan are facing challenges, and he called for a long-term cooperation mechanism between the two sides to be built to create a better investment climate for ports and shipping industry.

Evergreen Group vice chairman Bronson Hsieh said measures undertaken by the mainland to expand domestic demand and adjusting the national economic structure will bring about greater trade and shipping industry prosperity.