A ship leaves for Keelung of Taiwan during a ceremony of the first direct sea transport across the Straits at Tianjin Port in north China on December 15, 2008. Passenger and cargo vessels owned by mainland and Taiwan companies will sail directly across the Straits subject to official approval.

Two workers stand in front of a ship leaving for Kaohsiung of Taiwan during a ceremony of the first direct sea transport across the Straits at Tianjin Port in north China on December 15, 2008. Passenger and cargo vessels owned by mainland and Taiwan companies will sail directly across the Straits subject to official approval.