Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday expressed strong desire to go to Taiwan for a visit, saying he would crawl to the island even if he could not walk at old age.

"Although I am 67 years old, if it is possible, I would like to go to Taiwan," he said.

"Even if I can no longer walk, I will crawl to Taiwan," he told a press conference after the closing meeting of the national legislature's annual session.

"I have long cherished the hope of going to the treasure island," he said. "I really want to go to the Alishan Mountain, Sun and Moon Lake and more other places, and have contact with the people in Taiwan."

(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2009)