The total export value of cross-border e-commerce handled via the maritime route between Xiamen City in east China's Fujian Province and China's Taiwan region stood at 485 million yuan (about 63 million U.S. dollars) upon its first anniversary, according to Xiamen Customs.
Xiamen Port opened its first direct cross-border e-commerce maritime transport route to Taiwan in April 2023 to meet the growing demand for exports to Taiwan. It features a shorter distance, faster speed and lower cost, compared with the "mini three inks", direct trade, postal and transport services which were launched in 2001 between Kinmen and Matsu, two islands attached to Taiwan, and Fujian, a coastal province in the mainland.
"The route runs twice a week and currently runs between Xiamen Port, Keelung Port and Taichung Port. Compared with the 'mini three links' route connecting the outlying islands, the direct 'big three links' route boasts the advantages of short voyage, short time, low cost and being free of a second transit. After placing orders online, Taiwan compatriots will receive high-quality goods from the mainland in as soon as five days," said Huang Juncheng, manager of the Shipping Department of Xiamen Port City International Shipping Agency Co., Ltd.
The cross-border e-commerce maritime route is the third one after the opening of the "Silk Road Shipping" e-commerce express line in June 2022 and the "mini three links", providing cross-border e-commerce enterprises with a more efficient, more stable and more convenient channel to Taiwan and building a new bridge for cross-Strait economic and trade cooperation.
"We have established a 'one-stop' service platform for filing, warehousing, logistics and customs clearance to ensure that cross-border e-commerce goods will be quickly delivered by the e-commerce express line after customs declaration in the customs supervision center, and it only takes 2.5 hours for the goods from entering the warehouse to being loaded onto the ship," said Wang Chang, director of the Supervision Department for Bonded Goods of Dongdu Customs under Xiamen Customs.
Cross-border e-commerce maritime route catalyzes trade across Taiwan Straits
As China and France toast their 60-year milestone, the sister cities of Huzhou in east China's Zhejiang Province and French city of Montargis are leading the charge to fortify relations like never before, from enriching cultural exchanges to pioneering eco-friendly initiatives.
In separate interviews with China Global Television Network in late April, mayors of the two cities that blazed a trail of collaboration for 20 years shared that they have been keen to stay true to the China-France cooperation spirit and plans to foster greater interaction in the cultural sphere.
"For example, this October, we're planning to collaborate with the Ministry of Education's China National Committee for International Language Exchange, which runs a program called 'Chinese Bridge.' We'll be inviting 30 students from Lycee en Foret, Montargis, to join the 'Chinese Bridge' Autumn Camp in our city. This camp serves as a youth exchange program between sister cities of China and France," said Hong Hupeng, Mayor of Huzhou, the birthplace of the guiding concept of "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets".
On his side, Mayor Benoit Digeon takes pride in highlighting that 180 pupils are learning Chinese in local schools, with a special focus on nurturing next generation's cross-cultural understanding.
"We will focus everything on youth, young people who will come to attend classes in a college or high school. We have 180 young people in Montargis learning Chinese. So, these young people can blend into a group that will go to school with them. And then there are also artists and athletes. We want to bring a team of young basketball players from Montargis to compete with young Chinese basketball players. For those who went to China the previous year, we will invite their Chinese counterparts to come and vice versa with their families. And all this will create bonds, bonds of friendship. We start with the young and when they are 20, or 25 years old, they will be able to do that by themselves and have exchange visits with Huzhou," added Digeon.
Montargis is called "Little Venice" due to its charming watery cityscape. Located about 100 kilometers south of Paris, the town is not only a key tourist destination in France, but also boasts much historical significance.
Montargis is one of the top priorities for many Chinese tourists who wish to venerate early Chinese revolutionaries as it is the birthplace of the famous Work-Study Movement.
Between 1919 and 1921, many ambitious young Chinese went to France, where they worked in factories in Montargis and other French cities to pay for their studies. Many youngsters became interested in Marxism and established one of the earliest Chinese Communist groups in the European country. Deng Xiaoping, the late Chinese leader and the chief architect of China's reform and opening-up, was among these students.
Nowadays, with Montargis and Huzhou standing as shining examples of sister cities from both sides, the mayor of Huzhou emphasized the unique and profound connection between the two cities while the mayor of Montargis praised the rapid development of the Chinese city.
"I believe that Montargis has a unique and deep connection with China. Since the inception of our partnership, visits between our two cities have grown more frequent. Last May, I had the chance to visit Montargis for the first time, and the experience truly resonated with me. Throughout history, Chinese and French youths have played pivotal roles in nurturing the friendship between our two nations. During the 1920s, young Chinese intellectuals such as Deng Xiaoping and Chen Yi worked and studied in Montargis, laying the foundation for a profound and enduring connection between Montargis and China," said Hong.
"The meeting of Huzhou and Montargis, was a somewhat improbable encounter for a small town at that time. Huzhou was not the big city it has become, since at that time, President Xi Jinping had not yet proposed the concept of 'Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets' in Huzhou. But, it happened very quickly. We visited the city again a few days ago and it was amazing. All that has been done, we were really amazed," added Digeon.
Cities of China, France ready to strengthen cultural connections: mayors
