BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese mainland's chief negotiator on Taiwan affairs Chen Yunlin said here Thursday that his upcoming visit to Taiwan will focus on economic issues.

    "The mission of the visit is clear and well-defined," said Chen, chief of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS). "No political issues pertaining to cross-Strait relations will be involved, nor will Taiwan's internal political affairs."

    Heading a delegation, Chen will visit Taiwan from Nov. 3 to 7. He is scheduled to meet with Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman Chiang Pin-kung.

    In a press briefing, Chen said one of his missions would be to discuss with Chiang cross-Strait direct shipping, air transport, postal services, food safety and tourism cooperation.

    Another mission was to exchange views on financial cooperation to withstand the international financial crisis, he said.

    Chen said four agreements are expected to be reached through the upcoming negotiations, which will help solve problems in cross-Strait direct shipping, air transport and postal services.

    Chen's Taiwan visit will be the second meeting between the ARATS and SEF in nearly 10 years. The first, attended by Chiang Pin-kung, was held in Beijing in June.

    The ARATS and SEF are authorized non-governmental organizations engaged in talks on issues related to cross-Strait exchanges. Talks were suspended in 1999 after then Taiwan leader Li Teng-hui proposed his "special state-to-state" model for cross-Strait relations.

    Chen's trip to Taiwan was preceded by an incident in which ARATS deputy chief Zhang Mingqing was jostled by a crowd in Taiwan.

    Chen said the trip had been agreed upon at the meeting with Chiang in June. "We noticed that most Taiwan people supported holding the meeting in Taipei, so we decided to go ahead with the visit as scheduled."

    "We've lost precious time and a lot of accumulated problems need to be solved through negotiation," Chen said. "For the benefits of cross-Strait relations and Taiwan compatriots, we have no excuse to hold off."

    Chen said his visit, the first meeting between the ARATS and SEF leaders in Taiwan, would be "an important step in the development of cross-Strait relations."

    He said the resolution of problems through negotiation served the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. "The negotiations and the outcomes will help improve cross-Strait exchanges, deepen mutual trust and further promote peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

    "I believe as the negotiation goes on, more and more Taiwan people will show their understanding and support," he said.

    Chen, 67, said he was "excited" with the Taiwan trip, which was his "long-cherished wish".

    "This is my first visit to Taiwan in more than 10 years since I was engaged in the work of Taiwan affairs," he said. "I feel like I'm standing at the intersection of history and the present."

    He said he had read many books about Taiwan and was greatly impressed by Taiwan's beautiful scenery and its hardworking people. "I would like to further enrich my knowledge of Taiwan through the visit."

    Chen was appointed to head the ARATS in June 2008. He was appointed vice director of State Council Taiwan Affairs Office in 1994 and promoted director of the office in 1997.