TAIPEI, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cooperation between the film industries of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan could benefit both economies, said the mainland's negotiator on cross-Strait ties, Chen Yunlin, Tuesday.

Chen, president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), said mainland box office revenues would exceed 10 billion yuan (1.47 billion U.S. dollars) this year and more than 30 billion yuan next year.

"It is a huge sector, which is beneficial to both economies," he said during talks with Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman, Chiang Pin-kung.

During the fifth round of talks in June, the two sides signed an agreement on intellectual property rights protection, which provided a mechanism for cross-Strait cooperation in the cultural industry.

However, problems were inevitable in cross-Strait cultural or educational exchanges and both sides must address them seriously, Chen said.

According to Taiwan authorities, next year Taiwan's universities will be able to enroll mainland students, who can start postgraduate programs on the island as early as March.

Chiang said the act could "promote cross-Strait academic exchanges and deepen mutual understanding."

He said both the mainland and Taiwan had accumulated experience in cross-Strait cultural, educational and technological exchanges, and both sides should expand cooperation in these fields based on related agreements.

The round of talks on Tuesday was the sixth in two years after the two organizations, authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-Strait affairs, resumed talks in 2008 after a nine-year suspension.

The two sides continued to discuss an investment protection deal and they are expected to sign a medical and health cooperation agreement on Tuesday.