The first direct shipping service linking Taiwan and mainland China in 60 years took place Monday, with Evergreen's 1,140-TEU Uni-Adroit sailing to the northern Chinese port of Xingang.
The service, with many others expected to follow in the coming weeks, follows a November agreement between Beijing and Taipei to recommence direct trade links between China and the island state. It eliminates the need for carriers and shippers to use a third port, such as Hong Kong or the Japanese port of Ishigaki.
According to AXS-Alphaliner, 12 services linking Taiwan to mainland China stopped at Ishigaki as of last week -- five Taiwanese carriers and seven Chinese ones.
The Evergreen service, called the Taiwan-North China or HBT route, will have a rotation of Kaohsiung, Xingang, Dalian, Qingdao and Kaohsiung.
"This is a significant milestone for Taiwan, China and for Evergreen," said S.S. Lin, Evergreen's executive group vice chairman. "Direct shipping links will save time and costs and will help carriers and shippers increase business competitiveness and improve performance. Cross-strait economic exchanges will aid those people on both sides of this trade and will energize the transportation capability and upgrade the service quality across the straits."
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