Kinmen elite to make Xiamen excursion

Kinmen County Commissioner Chen Shui-tsai (陳水在) said yesterday he will head a large delegation, composed of Kinmen's social elite, to make a direct voyage to China's Xiamen port Tuesday.

"It will be an ice-breaking visit after more than 50 years of separation of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait," Chen told a group of journalists from Taiwan to cover tomorrow's opening of the direct "small three links" (小三通).

Chen said the delegation was originally scheduled to sail to Xiamen tomorrow, but changed its departure date to Tuesday at China's request.

As Beijing still refuses to resume dialogue with Taiwan and gives a lukewarm response to the Taiwan-initiated small three links, Chen said, the Kinmen County Government is under heavy pressure in preparing for the new opening measure.

Chen said he has sent special envoys to consult with Xiamen officials on small three links-related issues.

"My observation is that our planned Kinmen-Xiamen visit would proceed smoothly and no further changes to the itinerary are expected," he said optimistically.

In line with the Offshore Islands Development Act passed by the legislature earlier this year, the Taiwan government is scheduled tomorrow to formally open direct trade, mail and shipping links between its defense outposts of Kinmen and Matsu, and China's Xiamen and Fuzhou ports on a trial basis for one year.

Noting that the opening of the small three links offers a new opportunity for Taipei and Beijing governments to deal with bilateral relations, Chen said the Kinmen delegation will show its greatest sincerity and goodwill toward China during its historic visit.

"We look forward to starting constructive interaction with the mainland," Chen said, adding that if necessary, he will ask the Xiamen officials to convey to Beijing authorities Taiwan's goodwill and friendship toward China.

Chen said the upcoming Kinmen-Xiamen direct voyage is of great significance. Both Kinmen and Xiamen were under the jurisdiction of the Fujian government before China split into two parts following the Chinese Civil War. Kinmen, which lies far closer to the mainland than to Taiwan, is now Taiwan's frontline with China.

In view of their geographical proximity and close blood ties, Chen said he hopes Kinmen and Xiamen will develop an even closer relationship following the opening of the small three links.

Chen further said he hopes that the small three links will help usher in a new chapter in cross-strait rapprochement in the new year.