Experts from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan have urged the two sides to set up a civil organization to promote cross-Strait exchange and cooperation in the sector of agriculture.

At present, civil organizations will play a more important role than official channels in promoting agricultural cooperation and exchanges between the two sides, the experts said when they attended Tuesday's cross-Strait agricultural cooperation forum held in Boao, southernmost island province of Hainan.

They suggested establishment of "Association for Cross-Strait Agricultural Cooperation and Exchange" or "Center of Cross-Strait Agricultural Cooperation".

The association or center will collect and provide information on related policies, administration affairs and research results about agricultural enterprises, organization and products of the two sides, according to the experts.

It will also offer an effective platform for business people, scholars and associations across the Taiwan Straits to conduct exchange programs and cooperation projects, the experts said.

A series of proposals to boost agricultural cooperation and promote peace and development across the strait was passed at the one-day forum, which was jointly hosted by the Communist Party of China and the main Taiwan opposition party, the Chinese Kuomintang.

According to the major points of the proposals, Taiwanese farmers and agricultural enterprises are encouraged to invest in the mainland and will be granted favorable treatment in project approval, land use, infrastructure development, financial support and quarantine.