Taiwan opposition leader accepts Xi's invitation to visit China

TAIPEI: The leader of Taiwan's main opposition party accepted an invitation from Chinese leader Xi Jinping to visit in April, her party and Chinese state media reported Monday.

Kuomintang (KMT) chairperson Cheng Li-wun "gladly accepted" the invitation to lead a delegation to China, her party said in a statement, confirming a Xinhua report.

The KMT advocates closer relations and more exchanges with China, which claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to seize it.

Cheng "looks forward to joint efforts by both parties to advance the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, and work for peace in the Taiwan Strait and greater well-being for people on both sides," the statement said.

Xinhua said the delegation would visit "the Chinese mainland" from April 7-12, but did not specify where in China or if Cheng would meet with Xi, which she has been publicly pushing for.

The KMT statement also offered few details.