Taipei - The leader of Taiwan's incoming ruling Chinese Nationalist Party or Kuomintang (KMT) has been invited to visit China later this month amid signs of improved Taipei-Beijing ties, the KMT said on Saturday. KMT Secretary General Wu Den-yih said the party's chairman, Wu Poh-hsiung, had accepted the invitation from Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is also leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
"Wu Poh-hsiung has fully felt Hu's sincerity to promote cross-Strait ties and his goodwill. For cross-Strait peace and for Taiwan's security, Wu has accepted the invitation to visit China," Wu Den-yih told a news conference.
"During the visit, Wu will express his condolences to China's earthquake victims on behalf of the Taiwan government and people, and will put forward his views on how Taiwan and China can build trust and work for the common interests of the Taiwanese and Chinese people," he said.
Hu issued the invitation to Wu Saturday morning in his capacity as CCP leader as China refuses to have official dealings with the Taiwan government, which Beijing has considered illegal since the two sides split after a civil war in 1949.
Taiwan scholars see Hu's invitation as positive for cross-Strait ties after Taiwan's incoming president Ma Ying-jeou, also from the KMT, is sworn in on May 20.
Chang Ya-chung, a professor of politics from the National Taiwan University, said Taiwan's prompt and generous aid to China's quake victims had touched Chinese leaders, prompting the invitation.
"By inviting Hu to visit China one week after Ma's inauguration, Hu has shown the greatest sincerity and goodwill towards Taiwan. It's very clear that Hu wants the CCP and KMT to cooperate and hopes this cooperation can influence the Ma government's policies towards China," he told the Broadcasting Corp of China.
Taiwan press said Wu plans to lead a 16-member delegation to visit China from May 26 to 31 and hold talks with Hu in Beijing.
