SOUTHEAST China's Fujian province recorded a cross-strait direct shipping freight volume of 7.11 million tonnes from January to April, up 2.98 per cent over the same period in 2011.

Containerised direct shipping cargo totalled 198,700 TEU, according to Xinhua's report.

Imported cargo weighed 1.2 million tonnes, up 5.5 per cent. Exported cargo increased 2.49 per cent to 5.92 million tonnes.

In the same period, the number of direct vessel shipping passengers increased 10.2 per cent to 501,300 persons.

During the first four months, cross-strait direct air services climbed 1.32 per cent to 2,000 flights. Air passengers grew 5.05 per cent to 255,600 persons. Xiamen airport handled 148,600 of such passengers, up 9.63 per cent.

This year, Fujian's Fuzhou city plans to launch a new passenger and cargo shipping service to Taichung, whose cost is said to be one third lower than air fare. It also plans to start a ro/ro cargo shipping service and increase direct air services.

Another Fujian city Xiamen's plans to launch cruiser lines to Taichung, Keelung and Kaohsiung and encourage shippers to use Xiamen as a transshipment hub.