The agreements struck in Beijing between China and Taiwan will come as a welcome relief to investors, traders and tourists who are currently obliged to take laborious and costly detours via Hong Kong when travelling between the mainland and the island.

There was even a scent of history in the making last week as Chiang Pin-kung, Taiwan’s representative, shook hands with Chen Yunlin, his Chinese counterpart. It was the first official meeting between the two sides in 10 years, and if Mr Chen visits Taiwan as planned he will be the most senior Chinese official to go since 1949, when the Communists won the civil war and Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists fled to an island that now enjoys democracy and de facto independence.