BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The chairmen of the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) on Thursday convened their first talks in nine years.

ARATS chairman Chen Yunlin and SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kun started their talks at around 9 a.m. in Beijing. Established in early 1990s, both the ARATS and SEF are authorized non-governmental organizations engaged in talks on issues related to exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

Chen said that "Since March this year, positive changes have taken place in cross-Strait relations.

"As wished by people on the two sides, the talks resumed today after nearly 10 years' suspension.

"We feel the great responsibility of this glorious mission and we must spare no effort in realizing the aspirations of people on the two sides," he said.

Chen expressed his hope that the ARATS and SEF could reach consensus and sign an agreement as soon as possible during the talks.

"Many problems in economic, cultural and social fields need to be addressed after a long time was idled away," Chen said.

"We sincerely hope we can seize this opportunity to promptly and actively exchange views so as to outline practical plans based on the expectations and benefits of the people on the two sides," he said.

Chen and Chiang's talks in the morning were followed by consultations on cross-Strait weekend charted flights and mainland tourists' traveling to Taiwan. The two sides also plan to sign related agreement on June 13.

Echoing Chen, Chiang said the two organizations had established mutual trust after recent benign contacts and the two would play an important role as a bridge for cross-Strait consultation.

"These talks mark a new start in cross-Strait relations," he said. "Normalized and institutionalized exchanges of the ARATS and SEF are bound to achieve the goal of benefits for people on both sides."

In 1992, the two organizations held negotiations in Hong Kong reached the famed "1992 Consensus".

In 1993, ARATS chairman Wang Daohan and SEF chairman Koo Chen-fu held talks in Singapore in the first public meeting between high-level figures in the name of non-governmental organization leaders since 1949.

The meeting between Wang and Koo established an institutionalized negotiation mechanism and marked an important step forward in the cross-Strait relations.

Chen on Thursday praised contributions made by two late chairmen and vowed to carry on their unfinished tasks.

"At this important historical moment, we must remember the late ARATS chairman Wang Daohan and SEF chairman Koo Chen-fu when we shake hands," he said.

"Though they have passed away, their contributions to the improvement in cross-Strait relations are engraved on our minds," he said.

During Wang-Koo meeting, four agreements were signed to promote trade and people-to-people exchanges. After the meeting, more than20 consultations at different levels were held. In 1998, Wang and Koo held meeting again in Shanghai.

Talks between the two sides were suspended in 1999 after Taiwan leader at the time Li Teng-hui proposed his "special state-to-state" model for cross-Strait relations.

REGULAR CHARTERED FLIGHTS

After meeting between Chen and Chiang Thursday morning, Sun Yafu and Li Bingcai, ARATS vice chairmen discussed the issue of opening regular non-stop chartered flights on weekends and faster cargo transport services across the Taiwan Strait with Kao Koong-lian, SEF vice chairman and secretary-general.

In 2003, the mainland and Taiwan agreed to offer chartered flights during the Spring Festival, China's major festival for family reunions, to help Taiwan business people working on the mainland return home.

The service suspended in 2004 due to the disagreement over operation details between the two sides and was resumed a year later after an agreement was reached to allow both mainland and Taiwan airlines to operate direct non-stop flights.

In 2006, the charted flights service was expanded to three other major Chinese festivals, the Qingming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival.

However, residents and industries from the both sides are calling for regular chartered flights on weekends and faster cargo transport services.

Discussions on allowing mainland tourists to visit Taiwan are scheduled to open here Thursday afternoon.

The ARATS was established in Beijing on Dec. 16, 1991, aimed at promoting cross-Strait exchanges, developing cross-Strait relations and realizing a peaceful reunification of China.

The SEF was established in Taipei on Nov. 21, 1990. It was authorized by the Mainland Affairs Council under the "Executive Yuan" of Taiwan to deal with cross-Strait affairs.