VOA双语新闻 China-Taiwan Agree on First-Ever Direct Fligh（在线收听）

The governments of China and Taiwan have agreed to allow direct commercial flights for a limited time between their territories for the first time in 55 years. The move is expected to ease tensions in one of Asia's most contentious political disputes.

中国和台湾官方55年来首次允许两岸间在限定的时间内进行直接的商务飞行。这一举动预计将会缓解亚洲最有争议的政治分歧之一。

This Chinese Lunar New Year, residents of mainland China and Taiwan will be able to complete a journey that has not been possible for the past 55 years.

今年的中国阴历新年，中国大陆和台湾的居民将可以有一次在过去55年中不可能有的旅行。

For a limited time surrounding the holiday, China and Taiwan will allow landmark direct commercial flights between some cities on the Communist Chinese mainland and the democratic island of Taiwan.

在限定的节日期间内，中国和台湾将允许在共产主义的中国大陆和民主的台湾岛之间的一些城市进行有着里程碑意义的直接商务飞行。

Between January 29 and February 20, 24 round-trip flights will connect the mainland cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with the Taiwanese cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung.

从1月29号到2月20号，祖国大陆的北京、上海、广州和台湾的台北、高雄之间将开通24次往返航班。

All flights are required to pass through Hong Kong airspace but will not have to land. At present, all flights between the two regions have to stop-off at a third destination, adding hours to a short trip.

所有班机都需经过香港的领空但无需落地。目前，两岸的所有航班都需停落到第三地，这样就给两岸间的短途旅行增加了几个小时。

The deal came Saturday in the Chinese Special Administrative region of Macau.

中国和台湾星期六在中国澳门特别行政区达成了两岸春节包机直航协议。

Michael Lo, Chairman of the Taipei Airlines Association, was one of the principal negotiators for the agreement. He says opinions were exchanged and an agreement was reached fairly quickly.

主要谈判代表之一，台北市航空商业同业工会理事长乐大信说：“双方进行了意见交换，而且相当快地达成了协议。”

Taiwan has banned direct transport links since 1949, when the Nationalist Kuomintang government fled to Taiwan after losing a civil war to the Chinese Communist Party.

自从国民党政权1949年在中国大陆的内战中失利后败退到台湾以来，台湾一直禁止和中国大陆直接通航。

China regards the independently-ruled island of Taiwan as part of its territory and insists Taiwan must not declared formal independence and must eventually be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.

中国认为独立自治的台湾是其领土的一部分，并且坚持台湾不可以宣布独立甚至最终可以采取武力的必要方式统一祖国。

But business ties are flourishing despite the political rift.

虽然海峡两岸的政治关系目前依然紧张，但是双方的商业往来却日渐繁荣。

The temporary deal to allow direct flights between China and Taiwan could help to lift tension between the two sides, which has been rising since independence-minded Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian was re-elected in March 2004.

自从有着台独思想的台湾总统陈水扁2004年3月重新当选以来两岸间的紧张局势就一直在上升，这次允许在中国和台湾间直航的暂时协议将有助于缓解两岸间的这一紧张局势。