BEIJING, April 15 -- The mainland welcomes the attendance of Eric Chu, chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) party in Taiwan, at the upcoming 10th Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum in Shanghai, a mainland official said on Wednesday.

The mainland will communicate closely with the KMT to arrange activities for Chu's visit, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said during a regular press conference while answering questions on whether General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinpingwill meet with Chu.

Ma said he hoped Chu's visit will help keep the momentum of exchanges between the CPC and the KMT and will jointly advance Party-to-Party and cross-Strait ties.

The schedule for Chu's visit will be released as soon as it's available, he said.

The 10th Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum is scheduled to be held on May 3. The forum, initiated in 2006, is sponsored by the KMT and CPC.

Officials from the CPC, the KMT, other political parties from the island and involved government agencies will attend the forum.

Delegates from small and medium-sized businesses, young and grassroots people, and financial, sci-tech, cultural and educational fields will also take part in the event.