Beijing  - Negotiators from mainland China and Taiwan on Friday signed an agreement to allow regular weekend charter flights beginning July 4 after the first talks between the two sides in nearly 10 years.

Chen Yunlin, chairman of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, and Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation, signed the agreement.

The services would initially include 36 return flights each weekend between several cities on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and "will increase according to demand," the agreement said.

The two sides also agreed to start discussing direct flights as soon as possible, avoiding the need to continue flying via Hong Kong.

Negotiations on chartered freight flights would be held within three months after the weekend services begin, the agreement said.

The two sides would simplify immigration and customs procedures for passengers and cargo and continue to operate charter flights over traditional Chinese festivals.

The mainland-based Cross-Strait Aviation Transport Exchange Council and the Taipei Airlines Association would discuss and implement details of the agreement, which takes effect immediately. (dpa)