Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), will lead a delegation to mainland China next month at the invitation of Beijing, her first visit since assuming the position in November.
Song Tao, head of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Monday that the Communist Party Central Committee and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee, would welcome her visit to Jiangsu province, Shanghai and Beijing from April 7 to 12 to “promote the peaceful development of relations between the Communist Party and Kuomintang as well as across the Taiwan Strait”, according to Xinhua.
The invitation raises the expectation that she will meet Xi, as Cheng has repeatedly expressed hope for a face-to-face meeting with him.
Cheng expressed gratitude for the invitation and said she hoped joint efforts by the parties could “promote cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, and seek peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region and the well-being of the people on both sides”, according to a statement by her office.
PLA kicks off military exercises around Taiwan
PLA kicks off military exercises around Taiwan
Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, Cheng stressed that the visit would be conducted under the KMT’s long-standing framework – opposition to Taiwan independence and adherence to the 1992 consensus, which Beijing insists is the basis for engagement.