The cargo flight was a result of the negotiations held a month ago between civil aviation associations of both sides.

Under the agreement reached on June 14, air carriers across the Strait will be allowed to transport equipment used by Taiwan-funded plants in Chinese mainland.

The agreement also approved three more chartered passenger flight programs during traditional Chinese festivals in addition to the Spring Festival flight, which was launched in 2003.

"What we are expecting is the regular cargo and passenger flights, which will greatly benefit businessmen and improve peoples' communications across the Strait," said Chen.

Direct links have been cut for over 50 years across the Strait, while direct air links have become an urgent issue facing the cross-Strait exchanges with the development of economic and trade relations between the two sides.

The mainland has taken great efforts to push forward two-way and comprehensive "three direct links" in mail, transport and trade across the Strait, calling on Taiwan authorities to give up political concerns over the issue.

"It is in favor of the fundamental interests of Chinese compatriots living on the two banks to develop cross-strait economic ties with great efforts and realize direct links of mail, trade and transport services across the strait as early as possible, " Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told a Taiwan delegation to study economic and trade issues on the mainland on Wednesday.