An influential Taiwan farmers group plans to send a delegation to the mainland for talks on fruit exports to the mainland after Beijing agreed to ease restrictions on produce from the island.

　　The farmers will travel to the mainland next week and are expected to make "significant progress" on a range of issues, including speedy customs clearance and quarantine, the Taiwan-based China Times reported Saturday.

　　The talks, which follow landmark visits made by Taiwan opposition leaders earlier this year to the mainland, are seen by some as another attempt to undermine the island's pro-independence "presidency," which historically enjoys the support of Taiwan's farmers.

　　Following a visit to Beijing by Lien Chan, head of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT), the mainland increased the number of fruit types that could be exported from the island from 12 to 18.

　　Beijing is also expected to abolish import taxes on more than 10 types of fruit, according to Xinhua news agency reports.