Southeast Network News on May 1 (Fujian Daily reporter Cheng Zhiwen, Zhang Zhehao, correspondent Chen Mengfei, Huang Yingying) On April 28, Rao Quan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, met in Beijing with Fu Jixian, a delegation of public opinion representatives of the Chinese Kuomintang, and his delegation. The two sides conducted in-depth exchanges on strengthening cultural and tourism cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan. Rao Quan said that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has always supported cross Strait exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including tourism. It will take the lead in resuming Fujian residents' tourism to Mazu, and resume Fujian residents' group tourism to Taiwan after the direct sea passenger flights from Pingtan to Taiwan resume.

Pingtan is only 68 nautical miles away from Hsinchu, Taiwan. It is the nearest place between the mainland of the motherland and the island of Taiwan. It only takes 2.5 hours to reach Taichung Port by taking the "Channel" high-speed ro/ro passenger ship from Pingtan Aoqian passenger ro/ro terminal.

The two-and-a-half hour voyage has made Ms. Zheng, a Taiwan compatriot in Lan, and her family look forward to it for nearly four years. "Before the epidemic, we often took the" Strait "to Fujian and Taiwan, which was very convenient. After the interruption of the" Strait "route, we had to take a bus to Fuzhou before taking a flight back to Taiwan from Pingtan, but the ticket price was nearly half of the normal ticket price of the" Strait ". It would be great if the Lan Tai maritime passenger route could resume as soon as possible!" sighed Ms. Zheng, a Taiwan compatriot.

Faced with the enthusiastic expectations of Taiwan compatriots, the relevant departments of Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone and the port joint inspection units actively cooperated to make preparations for the resumption of the "Straits".

According to Pan Zibao, the person in charge of the Transportation Management Office of the Traffic Construction Bureau of Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone, at present, the "Channel" has passed the annual inspection and special inspection of the statutory inspection department, and is equipped with a sufficient number of crew in accordance with the requirements of the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate of Ships issued by the national maritime administration. At the same time, the desilting and dredging of the port basin and channel of the Aoqian Passenger Terminal, as well as the maintenance and updating of relevant facilities and equipment, have also been completed, which in many ways escort the resumption of the "Channel".

In addition, the joint inspection unit at Pingtan Port also actively carried out customs clearance drills in the whole process of passengers' entry and exit, and made preparations for the resumption of direct flights to Taiwan. For example, Pingtan Exit Entry Border Inspection Station has set up a shortcut information collection point at the Aoqian Passenger Ferry Ro Ro Terminal, so that qualified personnel can achieve "one place filing and nationwide use" after handling, and people in Lantai can make an appointment nearby.

During the suspension of the "Channel", Fujian Strait High Speed Ro Ro Shipping Co., Ltd. also carried out comprehensive inspection, repair and maintenance of the "Channel", and carried out monthly trials to ensure that the ship was in the best condition to meet the resumption of navigation.

Next, Pingtan will continue to promote the convenience of shipping exchanges, strive for the resumption of the direct shipping routes of Lantai maritime passenger transport, timely increase the direct cargo flights of Pingtan to Taipei and Kaohsiung, and carry out various brand activities such as the Common Homeland Forum, so as to continuously enhance the exchanges, interaction and cooperation between compatriots across the Taiwan Straits.