Deputy chief of KMT to visit mainland next week
( 2001-05-05 15:52 ) (9 )

Taiwan's deputy chief of the Kuomintang, Vincent Siew, said Saturday he would visit mainland next week to promote economic integration between the two sides of the Strait.

Siew, who is former ``premier' of Taiwan and chairman of the Cross Strait Common Market Foundation, said he would depart for mainland on Tuesday.

He will be accompanied by about 15 heavyweight businessmen, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing chairman Morris Chang, China Development Industrial Bank president Benny Hu, Yulon Motor vice chairman Kenneth Yen, and Cathay Life Insurance chairman Tsai Hung-tu.

The delegation is expected to meet high-ranking officials including Vice Premier Qian Qichen in Beijing and the chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, Wang Daohan, in Shanghai, along with others in Shenzhen.

Siew said the trip was aimed at exchanging ideas with mainland officials about his proposal to establish a common market between Taiwan and the mainland.

The market could "create a win-win situation for both sides and it's important for Taiwan's development," he told reporters this week.