Chen Yunlin (R), president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), shakes hands with Chiang Pin-kung (L), chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), before talks began in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Oct. 20, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese mainland and Taiwan negotiators on Thursday afternoon signed an agreement on cross-Straits cooperation in nuclear safety, Xinhua reported.

Two organizations representing Taiwan and the mainland began talks on Thursday morning in the mainland's northern city of Tianjin.

This is the seventh round of talks between the two sides in the past three years.

The signing of the nuclear safety agreement will lead to the establishment of a nuclear safety reporting system between the two sides, promote cooperation among nuclear safety organizations and strengthen exchanges in nuclear safety regulation and supervision,?Chen Yunlin, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) said during the talks.

These efforts will help raise nuclear safety standards on both sides of the Straits, safeguard the security, property and health of the people and protect the environment, he said.

The negotiators will also continue the discussion about an investment protection agreement between the mainland and Taiwan.

According to Chen, the two sides have made positive and important progress through active and in-depth communication in this regard, and have essentially reached a consensus on the contents of the agreement.

The two sides have agreed to accelerate the discussion in the final stage, and the agreement is expected to be signed in the next round of talks, Chen said.