The first batch of fruit from Taiwan arrived at Mawei port in east China's Fujian Province Sunday morning in the wake of visits to the Chinese mainland by Lien Chan, chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party, and James CY Soong, chairman of the People First Party (PFP) in Taiwan.

Customs clearance for the three containers carrying 33 tons of fruit was completed in three hours. "Everything went very smoothly," said an official named Lin from Tianshun Trading Company of Fujian, responsible for handling the required procedures.

"All relevant departments have been very cooperative in the process of customs clearance," said Lin.
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Lien led a delegation on a historic trip to mainland from April 26 to May 3. It is the first time he had set foot there since 1945, and the first visit by a KMT chairman in 56 years, and was followed by Soong's visit from May 5 to 13.

The fruit, including pineapples, lemons, tangerines, mangoes, bananas, grapefruits and guavas, were imported by Chaoda Modern Agriculture Group of Fujian. Some of it will be shown to visitors at an imminent economic and trade fair.

Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, announced on May 3 that the Chinese mainland decided to increase the access of fruit from Taiwan to 18 species from the previously 12, and to offer zero tariff to at least 10 species of fruits from Taiwan.

Mainland departments are taking measures to execute zero tariffs on at least 10 species of fruit from Taiwan.

However, at present, prices of fruit from Taiwan remain high on the mainland market.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2005)