On June 20, the Pingtan Office of Fujian's Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau issued its first customs declaration form for 5.7 tons of abalone feed imported from Taiwan, carried by Haixia, the first cross-Straits cargo ship. The first cleared case marks the beginning of direct trade between the mainland and Taiwan.

According to national regulations, the abalone feed is one of the authorized legal inspection commodities, and should be declared to the Inspection and Quarantine Institution and be certificated through customs.

The first goods were imported from Zhongqiao Trade Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Taiwan Trans Wagon. This has been a trial run for the Haixia travelling between Taiwan and the Pingtan port.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Brian Salter