Another direct shipping route between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan will be officially inaugurated on June 8, a Chinese mainland official announced here Wednesday.

The route, devoted to passenger transport, links Quanzhou of east China's Fujian province and Jinmen of Taiwan, said He Shizhong, director of the economic bureau of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a press conference.

"The sea transport routes between Fujian and Jinmen and Mazu are real direct transport routes," said He. "Such mode may well be expanded to other ports across the Taiwan Strait so as to realize comprehensive, direct and two-way shipping across the Strait."

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2006)