China Southern Airlines has set up an office in Taipei and has become the first Chinese mainland airline company to be registered in Taiwan.

Si Xianmin, president of China Southern, said the establishment of the Taiwan office is a new start for China Southern and the company will work closely with Taiwan-based airline companies to jointly increase each other's competitiveness.

According to a representative of China Southern the company has carried more than 12,000 passengers across the Taiwan strait since direct flights were launched between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. However, at the moment, China Southern is only allowed to offer non-profit services in Taiwan.

(China Hospitality News January 22, 2009)