Itinerary for james soong's may visit revealed

The chairman of Taiwan's opposition People First Party, James Soong Chu-yu, will meet President Hu Jintao during his eight-day mainland visit from next Thursday.

Party secretary-general Chin Chin-sheng said yesterday Mr Soong and an 80-strong party delegation would travel to Xian , Nanjing , Shanghai, Hunan and Beijing.

Mr Soong is first expected to go to Xian, then to Nanjing on May 7, where he will pay tribute to Sun Yat-sen, before meeting the mainland's top Taiwan negotiator, Wang Daohan , in Shanghai on May 8.

He will pay respects to his ancestors at their shrine in Xiangtan , Hunan, on May 9 and head to Beijing on May 10. Mr Soong would get the same reception as that accorded to Lien Chan, Mr Chin said.