Taipei: Taiwan and China will launch daily charter flights next month and introduce regular passenger and cargo flights in mid-2009, the Central News Agency (CNA) said Sunday.

According to CNA, Taiwanese and Chinese representative will meet in Shanghai in early December to sign an air control agreement for launching daily charter flights on Dec 15.

Half a year later, regular passenger and cargo flights will be launched across the Taiwan Strait under the air pact signed by Beijing and Taipei on Nov 4, CNA said.

Launching direct sea, air and trade links with China is in line with the policy of President Ma Ying-jeou who was inaugurated on May 20.

Ma, from the China-friendly Chinese Nationalist Party, won the March 22 election on the platform of seeking peace with China and revitalizing Taiwan's economy which has been hurt by Taipei's five-decade ban on sea, air and trade links with China.

On July 4, Taiwan and China launched weekend charter flights to allow Chinese tour groups to visit Taiwan.

On Nov 4, Taiwan and China signed four pacts in Taipei on direct sea links, a direct postal service, daily charter flights and food safety. The pacts are expected to take effect on Dec 15.

Source : IANS