Chen Yunlin (C), president of Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), bids farewell at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan, Dec. 22, 2010. Chen and his delegation left here Wednesday for the Chinese capital of Beijing after the conclusion of the sixth round of cross-strait talks. (Xinhua/Song Lidong)

TAIPEI/BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese mainland's top negotiator with Taiwan left the island Wednesday afternoon after a 48-hour visit, which saw the signing of a medical and health care agreement.

Chen Yunlin, president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), arrived in Taipei Monday for the sixth talks with Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

Chen and Chiang signed a cross-Strait medical and health care cooperation agreement after the talks and reached consensus on an investment protection deal, which was expected to be signed next year.

Wang Yi, the mainland's Taiwan affairs chief, said he appreciates the progress the mainland negotiators made during the visit when greeting them at Beijing airport Wednesday afternoon.

The visit shows that cross-Strait talks have "matured" through the efforts of both sides, Wang said.

People on both sides of the strait increasingly understand and support the talks, he said.

The cross-Strait medical and health care cooperation agreement is good for the health and safety of both mainland and Taiwan people, he added.

During the talks, the two sides reached a common understanding on many issues and established a mechanism to supervise the implementation of cross-Strait agreements, he added, noting that the agreements have a positive impact.

Chen said at a farewell function that he was "glad to see the agreement could better protect the health and safety of Taiwan compatriots."

The mainland's Ministry of Health said in a statement that the agreement would expand cross-Strait medical exchanges. The ministry is also working on a regulation to help Taiwan hospitals and doctors set up businesses in the mainland, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2011.

Chiang said the agreement would "bring new business opportunities" to the island's medical sector.