BEIJING -- The Taipei World Trade Center, Taiwan's leading trade promotion agency, opened its Beijing representative office on Thursday, the second it has opened on the Chinese mainland.

The Taipei World Trade Center opened its first representative office on the mainland in Shanghai on December 18.

Wang Chih-Kang, president of the agency, said the offices will allow the center to provide mainland market information to Taiwan businessmen in a timely manner.

The move will help Taiwan businessmen to better tap the mainland market, he said.

The two mainland offices were set up following approval from mainland authorities.

Taiwan have also given approval to the mainland-based China Chamber of Commerce for the Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products to set up an office in Taipei.

The Taipei World Trade Center said it plans to set up more representative offices in other cities across the mainland in order to further promote cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation in economic, trade and industrial circles.