DPP visits 'welcome'

Source: Xinhua  |   2009-5-28  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE Chinese mainland would welcome more visits with politicians of the Democratic Progressive Party, the opposition in Taiwan, an official in Beijing said yesterday.

"We welcome more DPP members to visit and learn more about the mainland," said Yang Yi, spokesman of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, in response to a question about Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chu's recent visit to the mainland at a press conference.

Chen was promoting the World Games, to be held in Taiwan's port city Kaohsiung in July, and there were no political issues in her schedule, Yang said.

"Both sides of the Taiwan Strait have reached an understanding that we should shelve disputes, instead of exaggerating them, so as to smooth interactions," he said.

Chen, a key DPP member, paid a four-day visit to Beijing and Shanghai last week.

All Taiwan people, including DPP members, are welcome to visit the mainland, "once they agree on peaceful development across the strait," Yang said. Chen invited mayors of the two cities to attend the World Games. The mainland will send a delegation of athletes and observers, Yang said.