Negotiators from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan said Monday the two sides should strengthen cooperation in medical care.

"The goal of economic development is to improve the living standards of people.... The mainland and Taiwan should also strengthen medical cooperation to benefit people from both sides," said Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), when visiting the BenQ Hospital in Nanjing, capital of eastern Jiangsu Province.

The BenQ Hospital was supported by the Taiwan-based AU Optronics Corporation.

Chen Yunlin, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), said the two sides had their respective medical advantages and should work together to learn from each other.

The SEF and the ARATS on Sunday signed three agreements in Nanjing on opening regular flights, boosting cooperation in finance and judiciary.

Chiang said the talks were "the most important" in the past 60 years.

"History will remember the spring of 2009 and the city of Nanjing... History will not stop because of objectors, and a tide will not change its course because some people are blocking the way," said Chen Yunlin at the farewell ceremony for Chiang and the SEF delegation.

Chen said he believed cross-straits relations would continue to progress despite obstacles.

After leaving Nanjing, Chiang is to visit Yangzhou and Suzhou cities, also in Jiangsu.

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2009)