Chinese cruise ship stops in Taiwan
A Chinese cruise ship with 1,600 tourists has arrived in Taiwan, boosting prospects for expanded economic ties between the rivals as the first such vessel to do so.
The Ocean Mystery arrived at Keelung port following a two-day cruise from Shanghai.
The 1,600 passengers are the first of several large-scale tour groups Chinese officials have promised to send to Taiwan.
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou is easing long-strained relations with China by promoting closer economic ties.
Last December, the two sides lifted a ban on direct transportation links imposed when they split amid civil war in 1949.
But Chinese tourist arrivals have fallen far short of the 3,000 per day Taiwanese officials had expected, and are now averaging about 500 per day.