President Ma Ying-jeou spoke of the importance of signing a trade pact with China when he received three visiting U.S. senators Saturday. The trio -- Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) , Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Mark Udall (D-Co.) -- arrived in Taiwan earlier in the day, marking the first visit by U.S. senators to Taiwan since President Ma took office in May 2008. The president noted that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have signed 12 agreements over the past two years, and that cross-strait ties have been more peaceful and stable than at any time in the past six decades. The two sides are now negotiating a economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) , and Ma said he hoped it could be signed soon to institutionalize cross- strait trade ties. Citing a comment by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg at the Brookings Institution, a U.S. think tank, on May 10, Ma said the signing of the trade pact is significant in that it will promote peace, resolve differences and avoid confrontation. Noting that the group flew into Taiwan after visiting Beijing and Shanghai, Ma said this 'was unimaginable in the past, and was made possible through improved cross-strait relations.' The president also said that he talked to Feinstein, a former San Francisco mayor, over the phone during his visits to the U.S. in 2006, 2008, and 2009 but did not meet her, and said he was glad to 'finally have the meeting in Taiwan.' 