First China flights land in Taiwan Beijing hails resumption of
regular air travel as "new start" in relations. Last Modified:
04 Jul 2008 06:47 GMT The first batch of 100 Chinese tourists
were on the historic flight to Taiwan [AFP]  China and Taiwan
have resumed regular direct flights between the two sides for
the first time in nearly 60 years.  The first flight, from the
southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, touched down at Taipei's
Taoyuan international airport on Friday morning with 100
mainland tourists on board.   The resumption of direct air
services is a sign of thawing bilateral relations between the
two sides.  "Today is a new start in the history of exchanges
between the two sides," Wang Yi, director of China's Taiwan
Affairs Office, said on Friday in Beijing before the departure
of an Air China flight bound for Taiwan.  'Rare opportunity'
"At present, cross-strait relations are facing a rare
opportunity for development," he said.  The Taiwan Affairs
Office oversees Beijing's relations with Taiwan.