Chen Yunlin (R), chairman of Chinese mainland's Association 
for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), and Chiang 
Pin-kun, chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange 
Foundation (SEF), shake hands after signing the agreements 
on cross-Strait weekend charted flights and mainland 
tourists' traveling to Taiwan, in Beijing, China, June 13, 
2008. [Xinhua]

Chen Yunlin, chairman of Chinese mainland's Association for 
Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), and Chiang Pin-kun, 
chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF)
sign the agreements on cross-Strait weekend charted flights 
and mainland tourists' traveling to Taiwan, in Beijing, China, 
June 13, 2008. [Xinhua]

Under the agreement, the inaugural mainland tourist group will arrive in Taiwan on July 18th. The two sides set a quota for the number of tourists in line with Taiwan's accommodation capacity. But there's flexibility to adjust this number next year. At this stage, a maximum of 3,000 mainland tourists can travel to Taiwan every day. Currently, only groups of 10 to 40 tourists are allowed to travel to Taiwan and stay on the island for a maximum of 10 days for each group.

Meanwhile, the inaugural weekend cross-strait chartered flight services are scheduled to start on July 4th. For then on, 36 return flights will be arranged for every weekend, from Friday to Monday. And this number will increase according to demand. Mainland and Taiwan airliners will both operate 18 flights.

Five mainland cities have been designated as the first group of terminals for the chartered flights. They are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen and Nanjing. And Taiwan will have eight terminals. But the chartered flights still have to transfer via Hong Kong. But the two sides have agree to begin consultations to open direct flights across the Straits soon. And 3 months after launching the operation of the chartered flights, the two sides will begin consultations about opening similar chartered cargo flights.

Chen Yunlin (R), chairman of the mainland's  Association for Relations Across the Taiwan  Strait (ARATS) and Chiang Pin-kun, chairman  of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange  Foundation (SEF) walk into the aseembly hall  to attend a signing ceremony in Beijing,  capital of China, June 13, 2008. [Xinhua]

Sun Yafu, vice chairman of Association for Relations Across Taiwan Straits, said, "The resumption of talks between the two associations and the signing of the two agreements that will benefit people on both sides of the Straits are of great significance for the development of cross-Straits ties. Without the favorable change in the current state of Cross-Strait ties and the ensuing historic opportunity such achievements couldn't be reached. It's also the result of the concerted efforts of people on both sides of the Straits."

The agreements are regarded as an important breakthrough in talks between the two associations. The current talks were the first of their kind in 9 years. Both sides agree to continue close consultations to further strengthen cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation.