Chen Deming sets off for WTO meeting

Minister of Commerce Chen Deming has left Beijing to attend a ministerial conference at the World Trade Organization in Geneva. The Director-General of the WTO has called for the meeting in an effort to rescue the Doha Round of trade talks.

Minister of Commerce Chen Deming has left Beijing to attend a ministerial conference at the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

Discussions will focus on agriculture, trade rules, intellectual property rights, as well as the manufacturing and service industries. Also expected at the conference are representatives from the European Union as well as countries including the United States, India, and Brazil.

Taiwan tours officially kick off

Tour groups from the mainland are finally able to visit Taiwan. And with about thirty such groups due to arrive on the Island over the next few days, it's no surprise that flights are almost entirely booked out.

Friday saw 60 mainland tour groups, with 1,700 tourists, head for Taiwan. Airlines from both sides of the Taiwan Strait ran 16 round-trip flights in all.

In Tianjin, one tour group included 110 travellers. The oldest is 81 years old. They were all excited to start their eight-day luxury Taiwan tours.

Tianjin travel agencies said the tour package cost around 10,900 yuan. And prices will remain about the same for July and August.

To make things more convenient for travellers, Taiwan's Eva Air and Uni Air, and the mainland's China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines, have agreed on special ticketing arrangements. Passengers with charter flight tickets on any one of these airlines can transfer to any of the other airlines.

Taiwan travel agencies say mainland tour groups can enjoy either an eight-day or ten-day tour. The routes cover hot scenic spots like Mount Ali and Sun Moon Lake.

And with Taiwan on alert for an approaching typhoon, local travel agencies have also set up indoor alternatives to outdoor activities.

Insiders say another 28 tour groups, with more than 700 mainland tourists, will arrive in Taiwan over the next three days.

Airlines from both sides of the strait will conduct five round-trip flights on Saturday. While Sunday and Monday will see another 10 and 5 round-trip flights, respectively.