Chen arrived by private charter jet at Newark International Airport in New Jersey just after 5 pm (2100 GMT) and was promptly whisked from the tarmac in a private motorcade to Manhattan's Waldorf-Astoria hotel.

During his two-night stay in New York, Chen plans to meet some US congressmen, receive a courtesy call from New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, and visit the New York Stock Exchange and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

His visit will largely be kept out of the public eye.

An official from Taiwan's representative office in New York said the itinerary for the "private visit" would be low-key.

The range of activities and permission to meet congressmen mark a departure from the practice of the previous US administration, which set tight restrictions on what visiting Taiwan leaders could do.

Reports out of Taiwan have said Giuliani will present Chen with a key to the city. The mayor's office said official plans for the meeting have not yet been released.

Officials at the Metropolitan Museum said there was no itinerary set for Chen's visit there, while the NYSE said Chen would hold private talks with its top officers.

Chen's second overseas visit since assuming office last May has drawn controversy at home with the island's economy slowing down, and jobless rate increasing.

A poll published by the mass circulation United Daily News on Monday showed 46 percent of respondents approved Chen's trip against 38 percent who opposed it.

Although the visit is being billed as low key, New York is home to about 400,000 Chinese-Americans and major Chinese-language news outlets, which are expected to follow Chen's moves with great interest.

(china.com.cn 05/22/2001)