AUTHORITIES in China have granted approval to five additional ports to offer direct shipping links with Taiwan, a move that brings the total number of such approved ports to 68, according to China's Transport Ministry.
The five added ports are Tongling, Shidao, Laizhou, Taizhou Damaiyu and Ningbo-Zhoushan. They were announced at a meeting on cross-straits direct shipping in Xiamen, Xinhua News Agency reported.
The new deal comes ahead of the Straits Forum, a week-long event in China aimed at strengthening business exchanges with Taiwan, reports Bloomberg.
Xinhua reported that China has agreed to waive business and corporate income taxes for Taiwanese shippers on profit earned in the mainland from direct shipping. The exemption is effective from December 15. Furthermore, mainland authorities now plan on "assisting" Taiwanese shipping companies in setting up operations in China.
Last month, China and Taiwan agreed to let financial institutions invest and operate cross-border, to expand direct flights and to cooperate in fighting crime.
The five added ports are Tongling, Shidao, Laizhou, Taizhou Damaiyu and Ningbo-Zhoushan. They were announced at a meeting on cross-straits direct shipping in Xiamen, Xinhua News Agency reported.
The new deal comes ahead of the Straits Forum, a week-long event in China aimed at strengthening business exchanges with Taiwan, reports Bloomberg.
Xinhua reported that China has agreed to waive business and corporate income taxes for Taiwanese shippers on profit earned in the mainland from direct shipping. The exemption is effective from December 15. Furthermore, mainland authorities now plan on "assisting" Taiwanese shipping companies in setting up operations in China.
Last month, China and Taiwan agreed to let financial institutions invest and operate cross-border, to expand direct flights and to cooperate in fighting crime.