Cross-Strait Xiamen-Kinmen "mini-three-links" see sharp surge in passenger trips

The "mini-three-links" route between Xiamen City of east China's Fujian Province and Kinmen County of China's Taiwan region has seen the handling of more than one million passenger trips on it so far this year, a sharp surge of over 45 percent year on year, according to the latest official data released by the Gaoqi Border Inspection Station of Xiamen Entry and Exit Border Inspection Station on Saturday.

The Xiamen-Kinmen route is part of the "mini-three-links," which is short for the direct trade, postal, and transport services between Fujian Province and the Taiwan-administered Kinmen and Matsu islands.

During the peak summer travel period, the flow of passengers mainly consists of students traveling for study tours, research groups, people on cross-Strait family visits, and those traveling back and forth for tourism and shopping between the two sides. "I haven't been to Kinmen, and it's summer vacation. So I decide to travel there to make a visit," said Chen, a tourist.

The route accounts for over 90 percent of the passenger volume for the "mini-three-links" between the two sides. The one-way travel time is less than half an hour, with 24 round trips scheduled each day.

Since the beginning of this year, Xiamen's Gaoqi Border Inspection Station has handled over 5,100 vessel travels made on the route and one million inbound and outbound passenger trips on it, with over 70 percent of the passenger trips made by Taiwan compatriots.

"During the peak summer vacation season so far, we've officially launched the large baggage passage system to provide passengers with fast and convenient customs clearance services. At the same time, we've set up the 'ihaitai' integrated travel service machine in the quick passage area of border inspection, allowing travelers to access real-time information on ticketing, identification document processing, transportation, and accommodation, helping them meet various travel needs in a one-stop manner," said Shen Wenjuan, director of the border inspection division under the Xiamen Gaoqi Border Inspection Station.

"I stayed in Kinmen for five days, and now I'm returning to Xiamen. The boat is very quiet and clean, and it's really fast," said Scarlett, a foreign tourist.

Cross-Strait Xiamen-Kinmen "mini-three-links" see sharp surge in passenger trips

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.

"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.

This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.

By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.

China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.

The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.

"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.

China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting