The service industry offers great potential for greater cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, said Sun Yafu, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a forum on cross-Straits commerce, politics, and research on Saturday.

"Further collaboration between the mainland and Taiwan in the service industry will promote quality, bring benefits to the consumers, increase employment and optimize resource allocation," Sun said. "The cooperation has been further institutionalized with the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement signed in 2010."

The two-day forum during the weekend, at Nanjing University, served as a platform for businessmen from across the Straits to facilitate communication, seek investment opportunities and share experiences. Started four years ago, the forum has successfully introduced dozens of investment opportunities across the Straits, including collaboration in food, art, shopping district, etc.

"The mainland's service industry accounts for less than 50 percent in GDP while the figure in Taiwan is 68.5 percent. Therefore, the mainland is a market that cannot be missed for investors from Taiwan," said Hong Yinxing, Party chief of Nanjing University.