TAIPEI: Taiwan hopes to hold talks with the mainland before the year's end to seek permission for its airlines to carry transit cargo to and from the mainland, an official said Monday.

"The talks should be held this month or December," the official, with Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration, told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The opportunity to handle transit cargo to and from the mainland, before it is shipped to a third and final destination, is considered key for local airlines looking to expand their markets beyond current direct cargo services, he said.

Taiwan carriers hope to be permitted to fly goods to the mainland as a first stop before a mainland or other non-Taiwanese airline takes them to a final destination.

Similarly, they hope to secure the potentially lucrative opportunity to carry goods from the mainland to other destinations.

"Allowing transit cargo is crucial to us. It would allow cargo from the world destined for the mainland to be flown to the mainland via Taiwan. The same goes for goods shipped from the mainland," an EVA Airways official told AFP.

The official declined to provide a figure on the value of such transit cargo trade.

Beijing previously agreed to meet towards the end of 2009, and while an agenda has not yet been set, Taiwan hopes to secure a transit cargo arrangement between the two sides.

AFP

(HK Edition 11/04/2009 page2)