Ferry service starts between Kinmen and Xiamen, China

Kinmen yesterday launched scheduled boat trips to China in a further step toward improving ties between Taiwan and China.

For over a year, ships have occasionally traveled between the nation's outlying islands and China, but this is the first time a regular, scheduled transport link has been established.

Over 100 passengers yesterday boarded the ship, which will travel from Kinmen island to China's southeastern port of Xiamen every week, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Kinmen County Commissioner Lee Chu-feng (李炷烽) said he was thankful Chinese officials had allowed the link to be established.

"This is a new milestone for Kinmen-Xiamen relations," Lee said. "We hope that, in the near future, boats can also come over from Xiamen."

Currently the service is just one-way, the boat returns empty.

In a bid to improve ties, the government opened up "small three links" between China and the outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu over a year ago. While permitting visits, China has been slow to reciprocate and very few of its residents have visited Kinmen or Matsu.

Chinese officials have said they are more interested in direct links with Taiwan proper, rather than in relations with small, outlying islands.