Jiang Zengwei, the ARATS special advisor, will be the mainland's chief representative to the meeting, according to an ARATS statement.

The Chinese mainland and Taiwan announced the establishment of the committee on Jan. 6, which will handle issues related to the cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA).

ARATS Vice President Zheng Lizhong and SEF Vice Chairman Kao Koong-lian will act as the committee's conveners and jointly preside over the meeting, the statement said.

The two sides will discuss how to design the committee's framework and carry on the follow-up consultation of the ECFA, it said.

They will also review the implementation of the early harvest program under the ECFA, the statement said.

Under the program which took effect on Jan. 1, the mainland reduced the tariff on 539 Taiwan goods while Taiwan cut duties on 267 mainland commodities.

The two sides signed the landmark economic pact in last June to normalize cross-Strait economic ties and bring the two economies closer.

They will continue to discuss agreements covering commodities trade, services trade and investment.

source:Xinhua