With annual trade at about US$100 billion, Taiwanese businesses have pushed for years to end the ban on direct links across the 160-kilometer wide Taiwan Strait.

两岸每年贸易额约1000亿美金，台湾企业多年来一直在要求结束在160公里宽的台湾海峡上实行的直航禁令。

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This small free trade market in Xiamen city, is a major place for cross strait sales exchanges.

厦门这个小自由贸易市场是两岸销售交易的一个主要场所。

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Of the 74,000 vessels, carrying one-third of global seaborne trade, that passed through the Strait of Malacca last year, most also plied the South China sea.

去年穿越马六甲海峡的7万4千艘船只承载了全球三分之一的海运货物，其中大部分船只都经常通过南中国海。

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Already, with no direct links yet allowed, cross-strait trade is growing by over 30% a year.

ECONOMIST: China and Taiwan: Behind the smiles | The

"We believe the implementation of the pact will further promote exchanges and co-operation in cross-strait trade and help the economies develop together, " spokesman Yao Jian said in a statement.

BBC: Historic Taiwan-China trade deal takes effect

Of the 74, 000 vessels, carrying one-third of global seaborne trade, that passed through the Strait of Malacca last year, most also plied the South China Sea.

ECONOMIST: The South China Sea becomes a zone of eternal dispute