A new border inspection convenience measure came into effect on the first day of 2026, or Thursday, at the Wutong Ferry Terminal in Xiamen City of Fujian Province which sits opposite the Taiwan region, streamlining entry and exit procedures for Taiwan residents traveling between the mainland and the Kinmen Islands.
The terminal serves as a key hub in the "Mini Three Links," which refers to small-scale trade, shipping and postal services between Fujian Province, Kinmen Island and the Matsu Island group.
From now on, travelers from Taiwan can access a newly launched one-stop service that brings together several procedures previously handled at separate counters.
The integrated station covers cross-Strait travel biometric enrollment, travel record inquiries, and inspections of transportation vehicles and personnel.
For the first time, these services are available around the clock in the terminal's public area, rather than being limited to restricted inspection zones.
"The services are more open, integrated and intelligent, and efficiency is expected to increase by more than 50 percent," said Chen Jinlai, deputy chief of the Gaoqi Border Inspection Station under the Xiamen Border Inspection Authorities.
Passengers warmly welcome the new measure, saying the changes are already making a difference.
"It is indeed more convenient than before. I simply take out my certificate once in this area. All will be done quickly," said Sun Ping-i, a passenger from Taiwan.
"I have already done it. Only quick scanning will do. That's really convenient," said Wang Chin-hung, another passenger from Taiwan.
With multiple service windows consolidated into a single station in an open area, travelers from both sides of the Taiwan Strait are now benefiting from faster and more convenient entry and exit services.
More convenient cross-Strait entry-exit service begins in Xiamen
Bulgaria joined the eurozone and adopted the euro as its official currency on New Year's Day, becoming the 21st member of the euro area.
To ensure a smooth transition to the new currency, throughout January, the Bulgarian lev will remain in circulation alongside the euro. Starting Feb. 1, the euro will become the country's sole legal tender.
From Jan. 1 to June 30, the exchange of lev for euros is free of charge at banks and post offices. After this period, currency exchanges will be subject to a fee.
The Bulgarian National Bank has stated that it will exchange levs for euros indefinitely, continuing the process for as long as necessary. But it added that the mandatory dual pricing of goods and services in euro and lev will end on Aug. 8, 2026. Officials and experts have expressed their confidence in the transition process.
Vladimir Ivanov, chairman of Bulgaria's State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Markets, described 2025 as a year of market stabilization in a brief meeting, saying he expected 2026 to begin similarly, "especially after transaction costs decrease with the introduction of the euro."
Nikolay Valkanov, executive director of the Association for Modern Trade, also said in an interview that retailers, from large chains to small shops, had made significant efforts to ensure a smooth transition to the new currency.
Eurozone accession has been a central priority for the Bulgarian government ever since the country joined the EU in 2007.
It was not until June 4, 2025, that the European Commission announced Bulgaria had met all convergence criteria. On July 8, 2025, the Council of the European Union formally approved Bulgaria's adoption of the euro, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
The eurozone came into existence with the official launch of the euro on Jan. 1, 1999, in 11 countries including France, Germany and Austria.
Currently among the 27 EU countries, there are still six members, namely Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Denmark, that have not yet adopted the euro.
Bulgaria officially adopts euro with short transition period
