A program of exchanges between grassroots delegates of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) begins in Xiamen, Fujian Province, today with the start of a four-day visit from a delegation organized by the KMT's Taichung City division.

The delegation is scheduled to hold discussions with Taiwan business people and students working and studying in Xiamen, as well as promoting Taichung's specialties like suncakes and pineapple cakes.

KMT spokesperson Chang Jung-kung said they were the first batch in the first phase of the exchange program planned following the consensus reached when former KMT Chairman Lien Chan visited the mainland at the end of April and start of May.

Six cities and counties in Taiwan and six mainland cities were selected for the first phase and paired: Taichung City and Xiamen City, Keelung City and Ningbo City, Hsinchu City and Suzhou City, Changhua County and Qingdao City, Tainan City and Shenzhen City, and Kaohsiung County and Fuzhou City.

Chang said it was impossible to say how many batches of delegates would be involved overall as the program is intended to be a constant process. However, he said both parties attached great importance to it.

Today's 30-member delegation included Mu Kuei-hsin, committee chairman of the KMT's Taichung City division, city official Chen Tien-wen and Liao Feng-te, director of the KMT's Organization and Development Committee. The others were from business and education circles.

At the end of the visit a fair will be held including a show of Taichung's scenery to promote tourism there.

(China.org.cn by Wind Gu August 23, 2005)