With a new cross-Straits shipping route expected to open this month, the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone moves one step closer to its goal of becoming a logistics hinge linking the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, according to Pingtan county's official website.

The Lina, a high-speed ro-ro passenger liner operated by Fujian Straits High-Speed Roll-On and Roll-Off Ship Transportation Co, is waiting for approval of Pingtan-Taipei travel from mainland authorities after receiving the nod from Taiwan in March.

Once approved, the Lina will join its predecessor the Haixia, the first ro-ro passenger liner by the company, to meet the increasing needs of economic and cultural communication between the mainland and Taiwan.

Since its launch on Nov 30, 2011, the Haixia, sailing between Pingtan and Taichung, has transported more than 120,000 passengers.

As the mainland's first pilot zone opening up to Taiwan, the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone has been enjoying preferential policies from the central government to accelerate its construction.

Pingtan has introduced 52 industrial projects with a total investment of more than 110 billion yuan ($17.7 billion) – a significant amount of which comes from Taiwan-invested high-tech companies. It has also attracted nearly 100 billion yuan in social investment from 2010 to 2012, laying a foundation for better cross-Straits logistics development in order to develop itself into a logistics hub for both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Michael Thai