Kinmen trade fair may show shift in small links

A 112-member Chinese trade delegation, headed by Deputy Mayor of Jinjiang City Wang Yuandong (王遠東), arrived at Taiwan's frontline island of Kinmen via a direct voyage yesterday to preside over the opening of a trade fair.

This was the largest Chinese group to sail directly across the short distance in the Taiwan Strait since the Taiwan government opened direct trade, mail and shipping links between its two offshore defense outposts of Kinmen and Matsu and China's Xiamen and Mawei ports in Fujian province, commonly known as the "small three links" (小三通) at the beginning of this year.

The mission followed the arrival of a shipment of Chinese consumer products Monday to be displayed at the First Jinjiang Trade Fair scheduled to open at the Kinmen Stadium Friday.

The shipment comprised 138 categories of consumer products manufactured by 52 blue-chip firms in the Jinjiang area in Fujian province which lies opposite Taiwan. It was the first batch of consumer goods to be legally imported to Kinmen since the opening of the "small three links."

Wang said upon his arrival in Kinmen that he is very pleased to see the "small three links" enter a new stage of legal merchandise trade.

For his part, Kinmen Deputy Magistrate Yen Ta-jen (顏達仁) said the county government has long hoped to legally import Chinese consumer goods. "We hope the Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 Jinjiang trade fair will set a model for future cross-strait commercial exchanges."

A second trade delegation from Jinjiang, to be held by Zheng Zungjie (鄭宗杰), director of the external trade and economic cooperation department under the Fujian provincial government, is scheduled to arrive in Kinmen Thursday to attend the grand opening of the trade fair.

China has been reluctant to throw its full support behind the "small three links."

Kinmen County Government sources said the forthcoming Jinjiang trade fair may mark a change in China's attitude toward the "small three links."

"Anyway, we hope that the `mini three links' can make headway after the trade fair to help pave the way for opening of full-fledged trade, communication and transportation links across the Taiwan Strait," said Yen.