BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland welcomes more visits with politicians of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP),the opposition in Taiwan, said an official here Wednesday.
"We welcome more DPP members to visit and learn more about the mainland," said Yang Yi, spokesman of the State Council (cabinet) Taiwan Affairs Office, in response to a question about Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chu's recent visit to the mainland at a regular press conference here.
Chen made it clear that she visited the mainland to promote the World Games, to be held in Taiwan's port city Kaohsiung the coming July, and did not involve political issues in her schedule, Yang said.
"Both sides of the Taiwan Strait have reached an understanding that we should shelf disputes, instead of exaggerating them, so as to smooth interactions," he said. "As long as we learned, people gave positive feedback about Mayor Chen Chu's mainland visit."
Chen, a key DPP member, paid a four-day visit to Beijing and Shanghai last week.
All Taiwan people, including DPP members, are welcomed to visit the mainland, "once they agree on peaceful development across the Strait," Yang said.
A survey conducted by Taiwan-based United Daily News on Sunday showed 51 percent of 968 surveyed adults in the island thought DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen should visit the mainland.
And 53 percent of the DPP supporters in the survey thought the party should adjust its policy on cross-Strait issues.
Chen invited mayors of the two cities to attend the coming World Games during her visit.
The mainland will send a delegation of athletes and observers to the games, Yang confirmed.
"I do not know who would be in the delegation," he said when asked whether the two mayors will accept Chen's invitation.
