Taiwan trip by mainland actor is welcomed

Popular Chinese mainland actor Hu Ge paid a visit to Taiwan on Wednesday amid tense cross-Strait relations, which mainland authorities said would provide a rare opportunity for people from both sides to engage in exchanges.

Hu, known for his role as the protagonist A Bao in Blossoms Shanghai, one of the most popular television series this year, arrived in Taipei to a warm reception after receiving an invitation to the island from the Taipei Multimedia Production Association.

According to Taiwan media reports, Hu landed at Songshan Airport at noon, greeted fans warmly, expressed his happiness about the popularity of the drama and shared his hopes for more exchanges.

Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday that Hu would participate in discussions with young film and television series creators from both sides of the Strait in Taipei on Wednesday.

"We are pleased to see more Taiwan fans and drama enthusiasts having the opportunity to meet mainland celebrities they admire," Chen said.