Chinese and Taiwanese airlines on 4 July will initiate direct flights linking cities across the Taiwan Strait

, following an agreement between leaders from both sides. China's Air China said it would launch "regular direct flights" between Taipei and both Beijing and Shanghai, marking "the first time in over 60 years" that such services are offered. According to the Wall Street Journal, Chinese carrier China Southern Airlines and Taiwan's China Airlines will "cooperate in launching direct charter flights."