Former lawmaker latest to visit Taiwan

Renowned economist Cheng Siwei, former vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, began a 10-day visit to Taiwan yesterday, becoming the latest high-ranking mainland official to visit the island since cross-Straits ties warmed last year.

The 74-year-old will make a speech at a seminar on cross-Straits cooperation in combating the global recession, and sweep the tombs of his parents, who died in Taiwan.

Cheng's family moved to Taiwan in 1949 after the civil war. He moved back to the mainland when he was 16.