Tuesday, September 05, 2000, updated at 09:03(GMT+8)
China
Taipei Vice-Mayor Visits Beijing
Taipei Vice-Mayor Pai Hsiu-hsiung, who is in Beijing as head of a Taiwanese study society, will visit a Chinese association for the aged on Monday.
Speaking to reporters at Beijing's Capital Airport on Sunday night, Mr Pai said he hopes to meet Chinese officials responsible for handling relations with Taiwan -- although no such meetings were scheduled.
Mr Pai, visiting in a private capacity, is a holdover from the municipal administration of former Taipei Mayor Chen Shui-bian who was elected "president" in March.
Analysts said the Taiwan's approval of Mr Pai's visit, coming soon after the rejection of a similar plan by Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh Chang-ting, signaled a gradual easing of Taiwan's exchange policy.