Direct air route launched between Henan and Taiwan

Passengers board the plane after the

launching ceremony of the direct flight between Henan Province in central

China and Taiwan in southeast China, at Xinzheng International Airport in

Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, Feb. 8, 2009. The plane of China's

Shenzhen Airlines on Sunday implemented the maiden direct flight between

Henan and Taiwan, carrying more than 130 passengers to Taipei in Taiwan.

(Chinese media/Wang Song)
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ZHENGZHOU,

Feb. 8 (Chinese media) -- A direct air route between central China's Henan Province and

Taiwan was launched here Sunday.

The maiden flight, carrying more than 130 passengers,

took off at about 8:10 a.m. at the Xinzheng International Airport in Zhengzhou

City, the provincial capital.

The Zhengzhou-Taipei flight was operated by Shenzhen

Airlines.

"The direct flight has shortened the distance between

Henan and Taiwan, and also saved the traveling time and cost between the two

places," said Wang Rensheng, head of the association of Taiwan-funded

enterprises in Zhengzhou.

"It benefits the people across the straits and will

attract more investment from Taiwan."

The province's vice governor Song Xuantao said both

cultural exchanges and trade between the two sides have been on a stable rise in

recent years.

As of the end of last year, Henan approved more than 1,480 Taiwan-funded enterprises, with a contractual investment of 1.65 billion U.S. dollars in total.

People attend the launching ceremony of the direct flight between Henan Province in central China and Taiwan in southeast China, at Xinzheng International Airport in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, Feb. 8, 2009. A plane of China's Shenzhen Airlines on Sunday implemented the maiden direct flight between Henan and Taiwan, carrying more than 130 passengers to Taipei in Taiwan. (Chinese media/Wang Song)
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Xinzheng International Airport prepares souvenirs for the passengers taking the maiden direct flight between Henan Province in central China and Taiwan in southeast China, at the airport in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, Feb. 8, 2009. A plane of China's Shenzhen Airlines on Sunday implemented the maiden direct flight between Henan and Taiwan, carrying more than 130 passengers to Taipei in Taiwan. (Chinese media/Wang Song)
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