He will pursue agreements, including increasing the number of direct flights to 108 a week, operating direct shipping, postal exchanges and co-operating to ensure cross-strait food safety, despite protests by anti-mainland and pro-independence supporters.

'Please allow me to convey the goodwill wishes of 1.3 billion mainland people to their 23 million compatriots in Taiwan,' said Mr Chen, whose association represents the mainland in talks with the island in the absence of formal ties.

'This visit has not come easily. Only through talks shall we establish mutual trust and only through co-operation shall we create a win-win situation for the cross-strait economy,' he said in a luxury hotel after landing in the Taiwanese capital amid tight security.

The government of mainland-friendly Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou had to adopt tight security to ensure the safety of Mr Chen after his deputy, Zhang Mingqing , was attacked by pro-independence supporters during a visit to the southern city of Tainan last month.

More than 5,000 police were deployed to safeguard Mr Chen as he travelled from the airport into Taipei, where he is to hold talks and sign agreements today with his Taiwanese counterpart, Chiang Pin-kung of the Straits Exchange Foundation.

The security measures infuriated pro-independence supporters who did everything they could to voice their protests against Mr Chen's visit. They believe his trip is the first step towards cross-strait unification.

Pro-independence groups, including the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, have accused the Ma government of trying to sell out Taiwan. They have also claimed that the talks in Taipei are just economic sweeteners aimed at wooing Taiwanese.

The protests were joined by Tibetan independence supporters and Falun Gong followers, who unfurled banners accusing Beijing of political persecution. The DPP and other pro-independence groups also started a five-day protest with a sit-in in front of the legislature in Taipei.

Mr Chen hinted at the welcoming ceremony that he had not been affected by the protesters. 'It was sunny when we boarded the plane in Beijing, but drizzling when we arrived at Taoyuan airport and the Grand Hotel. Despite the drizzle, the breeze is comfortable, signifying a success in our talks,' he said. Mr Chiang said Mr Chen's visit and the talks marked an important step to further development of cross-strait relations.

The Taipei talks, made possible after Mr Ma of the Kuomintang took office in May, followed a historic round in Beijing in June, during which the two sides agreed to operate weekend charter flights, and to co-operate on tourism.

Cross-strait talks had been suspended by Beijing since 1999.

Foundation vice-chairman Kao Koong-lian yesterday said the two sides were expected to sign a deal today that would raise the number of weekend charter flights from 36 to 108 a week, and the mainland would also agree to open 16 airports in addition to the existing five.