Taiwan plans to loan for the first time a treasured painting to the mainland in yet another sign of warming ties across the Straits, officials said on Thursday.

Previously, the mainland's requests to borrow important cultural relics have been rejected, as Taiwan feared the works might be confiscated.

But the Taiwan Museum said it plans to loan a 17th-century portrait and other art treasures to the Hubei Provincial Museum and another museum in Fujian province for exhibitions next year.

"We support the existing policy to promote cultural exchanges with the mainland," said Li Tzu-ning, an official at the Taiwan Museum.