TAIPEI - An online purchase platform for the Chinese mainland-based UnionPay cards was launched Wednesday for Taiwan's online businesses, allowing mainlanders to make purchases and reserve hotels, air tickets or tourism products at the island's online stores with a simple click of the mouse.

"It's a special New Year's gift for people across the Taiwan Strait," said China UnionPay Co Ltd (CUP) Chairman Su Ning at a launching ceremony in Taipei, jointly held by the CUP, the mainland-based bank card services provider, and Taiwan's credit card center.

The online payment services would boost efficiency, vary the CUP services and narrow the distance between Taiwan's businesses and mainland customers, Su said, adding that CUP users can buy Taiwan's products or services via the Internet without having to set foot on the island. Su also pledges more cooperation with Taiwan in the field.

Wang Rong-jou, chairman of Taiwan's credit card center, said the move will enhance business volume of Taiwan's online stores, which is conducive to cross-Strait economic exchanges.

UnionPay cards were allowed to used in some sectors in Taiwan in August 2009. Currently, the card's usage covers 65,000 point-of-sale (POS) terminals and 21,000 ATMs in Taiwan, accounting for 54 percent and 82 percent, respectively. The cards have been widely used in department store transactions, cash withdrawal and advance among mainlanders visiting the island.

Taiwanese online book stores, shops, travel service providers, hotels and charity donation websites are among the first batch of online businesses opening for Internet payment via UnionPay, and more cyber shops, in the thousands, will accept UnionPay in the near future, Wang said.