FACTBOX: Taiwan, China to sign trade and transit deals

(Reuters) - China's top negotiator on Taiwan affairs was headed on Monday for the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own on a historic trip to sign trade and transit deals.

The November 3-7 talks mark another thaw in relations between the two sides since Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May on pledges to improve the island's economy by getting a piece of China's booming markets.

China negotiator Chen Yunlin and his Taiwan counterpart, P.K. Chiang, are expected to sign the following agreements:

-- A deal for daily direct China-Taiwan flights, up from four days per week now, to smooth passage for Taiwan investors in China and bring in more Taiwan-bound Chinese tourists

-- New, shorter direct flight paths to save time. Planes at the moment must fly a more indirect route through Hong Kong airspace for security reasons.

-- Six new Chinese airports, in addition to the current five, that can accept direct flights to or from Taiwan

-- The launch of direct sea cargo routes between four Taiwan ports and 10 China ports, sparing costly detours now used due to sovereignty concerns.

-- An expansion of postal links to reduce delivery time from the current seven to 10 days. Currently, Taiwan letters go through third countries or regions en route to China

-- An air cargo deal allowing shipments to go directly between Taiwan and China, instead of through third countries or regions per the current practice mandated due to sovereignty concerns

-- A framework to handle food safety issues in light of China's contaminated milk powder scandal that has prompted product recalls around the world, including in Taiwan

-- Cooperation between Taiwan and China on common issues stemming from the global financial crisis.

(Compiled by the Taipei Bureau; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)