Taipei - Taiwan and China plan to hold talks in October to sign a pact on launching direct shipping and cargo charter flights across the Taiwan Strait, an official said Tuesday.

After a meeting in Beijing in May which led to launching weekend charter flights on July 4, Taiwan's top negotiator Chiang Ping-kun and his Chinese counterpart Chen Yunlin are expected to hold their second roundof talks in Taipei, Kao Kung-lien, vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, told a seminar.

"During the talks, the two sides are expected to sign pacts on launching direct shipping and cargo charter flights," he said.

Kao said Taipei and Beijing have been preparing for the second meeting, and he thinks it could take place in late October.

Taiwan has banned direct air and sea links with China since 1949 when the Chinese Nationalist Government lost the Chinese Civil War and fled to Taiwan to set up its government-in-exile.

China has been urging Taiwan to remove the bans to pave the way for Taiwan's unification with the mainland.

Ever since Ma Ying-jeou from the China-friendly Chinese Nationalist Party became president on May 20, he has been pushing for greater exchanges with China and supports direct air and sea links with China.

Ma wants the weekend charter flights to become regular flights in the near future to bring Chinese tourists to Taiwan and to revitalize the island's economy. (dpa)