VOA标准英语2008年-China, Taiwan Prepare for Direct Flights

China says 3,000 Chinese tourists a day will be allowed to travel to Taiwan, a long-estranged island Beijing considers part of Chinese territory. The visits will be possible once the two sides implement¹ regular, direct flights, weekend, next month. Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing.
　
A mix of Chinese and Taiwanese tourists admire the sunrise over Alishan mountain, in central Taiwan's Nantou County (2005 file photo).

China and Taiwan have been rivals for decades - ever since the Chinese Nationalists fled to the island after losing a civil war to the Communists in 1949.

In recent years, China has threatened to use force, if necessary, to prevent Taiwan from declaring independence.

Following the March election of a Taiwanese president Beijing perceives as less independence-minded than his predecessor², cross-Straits relations improved quickly.

One concrete indication of better ties is an agreement both sides, signed earlier this month, for regular direct, flights between five mainland Chinese cities and Taiwan. The weekend flights start July 4.

The Chinese government's Taiwan Affairs Office spokeswoman, Fan Liqing, says there will be ceremonies to mark the first time in modern history mainland Chinese tour groups visit the island.

She says such ceremonies will be held in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Xiamen, which have all hosted cross-Straits flights before, during major Chinese holidays. In Nanjing, there also will be ceremonies marking the first time ever for that city to host direct flights to Taiwan.

Meanwhile, other improvements in bilateral³ relations include the return of China's main state-run news agency, Xinhua, to Taiwan, after a three-year hiatus. Under the new agreement, Xinhua reporters can stay on the island for three months, not just one month, as had been the case, previously⁴.

The Chinese spokeswoman also discussed the status of two pandas China has offered to Taiwan as a goodwill⁵ gesture.

Fan says Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan were transferred to a different area of China's main panda breeding center, following a massive earthquake that struck nearby.

She says they have adapted to their new environment and are in good condition.

She says the two pandas can be delivered to the island in November or December

1 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

2 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

3 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

4 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

5 goodwill   

n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉

参考例句：

• His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
• We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。