Experts from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan held their first talks in Beijing Tuesday to pave the way for a long-awaited pact that is expected to boost cross-Strait economic ties.

The experts' meeting would prepare for formal discussions on the proposed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) at the next round of talks between the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) in the first half of this year.

The framework is intended to make systematic arrangements to normalize mainland-Taiwan economic ties and bring the economies of both sides closer.

The pact is a special arrangement to push forward normal, systematic and free economic relations between the mainland and Taiwan, said ARATS executive vice president Zheng Lizhong, who led the mainland side at the experts' meeting.

The consultation of the pact, closely related to interests of both sides of the Taiwan Strait, is currently a top issue in deepening cross-Strait economic cooperation, he said.

"We hope today's meeting can end in common understandings on basic principles and procedures for the negotiation of the pact to kick off a good start for the smooth signing of the cooperation framework," Zheng said.

According to a statement from the ARATS on Sunday, the expert discussions would focus on the evaluation of the results and proposals of a joint research by academic institutions on both sides on this issue.

They would also discuss the official name and basic structure of the economic cooperation framework.

Kao Kung-lian, SEF vice chairman and secretary general, headed the Taiwan delegation.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2010)