A major task for the Chinese mainland and Taiwan is to "ensure the stable development of cross-Strait relations," said Chen Yunlin, the mainland's chief negotiator with Taiwan on Thursday during a meeting with James Soong, the chairman of the island's People First Party.

Chen, the president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), said the two sides should "consolidate the results of the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and ensure its movement in the right direction."

Chen said Soong is "an important promoter" of the improvement of cross-Strait ties and he hopes that Chairman Soong "continues to play a positive role" in improving relations.

"Cross-Strait relations remained sound last year," Chen said, adding the relations underwent a "historical transition" in 2008 and progressed rapidly in 2009 and 2010.

Chen, who led a 50-member delegation comprised of company executives, arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday to start a six-day tour of the island. He met business leaders and Master Hsing Yun, the founder of the Taiwan-based Fo Guang Shan Monastery, on Thursday in the southern city of Kaohsiung. Chen also visited local enterprises.

Further, Chen briefed Soong about his visit, saying that he aims to help mainland companies enter the island's market and promote more mainland investment in Taiwan.

Chen's visit was at the invitation of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman Chiang Pin-kung. Both the SEF and the ARATS are authorized by the two sides to handle cross-Straits affairs.