TAIPEI - TAIWAN President Ma Ying-jeou said on Tuesday the island would likely launch direct flights with China in about half a year, signalling closer trade ties between the two political rivals.

Currently such flights, which avoid going through a third region, are operated only through Friday-to Monday under an agreement signed in July.

'We can engage each other in more practical ways,' said Mr Ma who took office in May on pledges to improve Taiwan's sagging economy by tapping into China's booming markets.

'We must proceed step by step.'

Earlier this month, negotiators agreed on daily charter flights during a landmark visit by China's top Taiwan negotiator Chen Yunlin to Taipei.

That deal still needs Taiwan parliamentary approval.

Flights between Taiwan and China once had to go through a third region, usually Hong Kong or Macau, as the two sides banned regular direct links since 1949.

China has claimed self-ruled Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's forces won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's KMT fled to the island. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary.

Taiwan airlines have already started working to take advantage of the increase in flights, with Eva Airways saying it would start daily flights to Shanghai, Hangzhou and Shenzhen from next month. -- REUTERS