Chen Yunlin (R), president of the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), addresses the third session of the second council of the ARATS in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 28, 2011. (Xinhua/He Junchang)

BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) aims to sign an investment protection agreement with its Taiwan counterpart at an early date, ARATS president Chen Yunlin said Friday.

The ARATS will this year focus on conducting follow-up negotiations on the cross-Strait Economic Framework Cooperation Agreement (ECFA), which took effect last September, Chen said at an ARATS board meeting.

The ARATS will also promote discussions on cultural, educational, scientific and technological issues in future talks with Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), he said.

The ARATS and SEF are two institutions authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-Strait affairs.

Wang Yi, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, spoke highly of the ARATS's work in advancing cross-Strait consultations.

The year 2011 is critical for maintaining the achievements already made in the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, Wang said.

Wang expressed hope the ARATS can expand the functions of the cross-Strait talks amid the new situation and as new problems arise, to allow the ARATS-SEF negotiation system play a bigger role in advancing cross-Strait ties.