Five more mainland ports have been approved for direct shipping with Taiwan, reported Xinhua. The addition of Tongling, Shidao, Laizhou, Taizhou Damiyu and Ningbo-Zhoushan brings to 68 the total number of approved ports.

During a meeting on cross-Straits direct shipping in Xiamen, the PRC also agreed to exempt Taiwan shippers from business and corporate taxes on profits earned in the mainland from direct shipping. The exemption is effective as of 15 December last year.