China's mainland negotiator Chen Yunlin and his Taiwan counterpart Chiang Pin-kung will hold a new round of talks on expanding cross-Straits relations in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province on April 26, Xinhua reported.

The decision was made at a meeting between the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) in Taipei on Saturday, April 18, 2009.

The third round of talks between the ARATS and the SEF will focus on joint efforts to crack down on crime, regular cross-Straits flights, financial cooperation and judiciary assistance.

The two sides will also discuss mainland investment in the island.

Founded in 1991 and 1990 respectively, the ARATS and SEF were authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-Strait exchanges. Negotiations had been suspended for almost 10 years until June 2008 when Chen and Chiang held their first meeting in Beijing.

From June 12-14, 2008, ARATS and SEF leaders held their first talks since 1999 in Beijing. The two signed agreements on weekend charter flights and tourism.

On November 3, 2008, mainland chief negotiator Chen Yunlin led a delegation to Taiwan for a five-day historic visit, and signed four agreements on direct shipping, air transport, postal services and food safety.

(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2009)