The Chinese mainland would like to see a visit by Taiwan's Annette Lu Hsiu-Lien, said an official with the Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) on Tuesday.

Annette Lu (file)

"It's a good thing if Lu Hsiu-Lien genuinely hopes to visit the mainland. I think people would like to see it happen," An Min, deputy director of the ARATS told China Daily on the sidelines of the ongoing session of China's top political advisory body.

"She may even be welcomed if she gives up her secessionist stance," An added.

Lu, a former "vice-president" of Taiwan and a prominent memeber of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, said previously she would like to visit the mainland as the founder of a newspaper called "Formosa Post".

Relations between Beijing and Taipei have improved significantly since Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang Party came into power in Taiwan last year. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait have made efforts to strengthen ties, especially in the economic field.

(China Daily March 10, 2009)