The mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) President Chen Yunlin (R) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung attend a signing ceremony in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, on April 26, 2009.[Xinhua]

During Sunday's talks, the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) agreed to "actively encourage and promote mainland companies to conduct inspections and invest on the island".

The two negotiating bodies hoped relevant authorities on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to set up appropriate communication mechanism to boost mainland investment in Taiwan.

The mainland-Taiwan relations have entered a "new era of peaceful development" after experiencing "major historic breakthroughs" over the past 60 years, ARATS president Chen Yunlin said during the talks with SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kung in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province, April 26, 2009.

Sunday's talks would focus on regular cross-Straits flights, joint efforts on cracking down on crime and financial cooperation and relevant agreements were expected to be signed in the afternoon, Chen said.

The two sides would also exchange views and try to reach consensus on mainland investment in Taiwan.

Chiang said joint efforts on cracking down on crime would be conducive to safeguarding social security on both sides and improving cross-Straits investment environment.

The mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) President Chen Yunlin (R, Front) presents a gift to Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (L, Front) after the signing ceremony in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, on April 26, 2009.[Xinhua]

If the agreement on financial cooperation was signed, it would set a foundation for market entering threshold of the financial sector, Chiang said.

Regular flights would ease the current shortage of cross-straits flights by increasing the number of both flights and terminals, he said, indicating that the tickets might be cheaper.

"I believe that with the efforts of both sides, the talks will achieve satisfactory results," said Chen.

Chen and Chiang started their talks at around 9 a.m. in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.

This was the third round of talks between them in less than a year.

Chen Yunlin (R), president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), shakes hands with Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), during their talks in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, on April 26, 2009.