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TAIPEI: The former chairman of Taiwan's incoming Kuomintang party (KMT) flew to China Monday for a nine-day trip during which he will reportedly meet Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Local media said Lien Chan is scheduled to call on Hu Tuesday, the fourth meeting between the two since his historic trip to the mainland in 2005.
Lien's office was not immediately available for comment.
"It is a private trip," Lien told reporters before departure, adding he would unveil Tuesday a sculpture symbolic of cross-strait peace created by the late Taiwanese artist Yuyu Yang in Beijing's Olympic park.
Lien, accompanied by his wife, will also travel to Chongqing and Wuhan for sightseeing before returning on May 6.
Several Taiwanese business heavyweights have joined him on the trip.
The KMT fled to Taiwan from the mainland in 1949 after its nationalist troops were defeated by communist forces.
Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan part of its territory awaiting reunification.
Lien travelled to the mainland in 2005 as the first KMT leader to visit its arch rival. During the trip he met Hu to formally end hostilities with the communist party.
They issued a statement agreeing to push for cross-strait talks and seek closer ties in trade, tourism and other areas.
KMT's Ma Ying-jeou, who favours friendly ties with China, trounced Frank Hsieh of the ruling pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in last month's presidential vote. Ma is to take office on May 20. - AFP/ac
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