The personal representatives of Wang Daohan, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), arrived in Taipei Tuesday afternoon to attend the funeral of Koo Chen-fu, late chairman of the Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF) in Taiwan.

The two representatives are ARATS vice president Sun Yafu and secretary-general Li Yafei. Both attended the well-known 1993 high-level non-governmental talks between Wang and Koo and met Koo on many other occasions.

Wang said earlier that he cherished the memories of his old friend Koo and wished to attend his funeral. "However, due to my old age I am too weak to go there. I would like to send Sun Yafu and Li Yafei to attend the funeral on my behalf."

Sun and Li are scheduled to return on Feb. 2.

Koo died of kidney failure on Jan. 3 at the age of 88.