The New Party in Taiwan, following the Kuomintang and the People First Party's visits to the mainland, will launch a "journey of Chinese nation," as it calls, to the mainland from July 6 to 13.

The eight-day trip follows the Kuomintang's landmark visit to the Chinese mainland in April and that of the People First Party soon after.

The upcoming mainland visit by a third Taiwanese opposition party is called "the New Party's delegation to visit the mainland in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the victory over the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression," which could be abbreviated as the "journey of Chinese nation", Taiwan media said.

Yu Muming, chairman of the New Party, will meet "very" high- ranking officials, it is reported.

Yu said at a press conference on Wednesday in Taiwan that as a member of the Chinese nation, the party will communicate with the mainland on the basis of an integrated nation.

The delegation would reportedly have 30 members including the New Party's Secretary General Li Shengfeng and other representatives.

"We will arrange a full courteous reception to the delegation," Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, said in response to the coming visit on Wednesday.

According to Li, the delegation will visit the cities of Guangzhou, Nanjing, Dalian and Beijing. In Guangzhou, the delegation will pay tribute to the Huanghuagang 72 Martyrs' Tombs, where 72 people killed in an abortive uprising to overthrow the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) were honored.

In Nanjing, the delegation will pay tribute to the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, forerunner of China's democratic revolution, and visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre conducted by Japanese invading troops in World War II. In Beijing, the delegation will visit the Memorial Hall of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and have discussions with mainland scholars in a symposium.

When asked to comment on Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's remarks that he would like to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao in the United States, Li said that any possible meeting between Hu and Chen should be held on "our own soil."

"The Taiwan issue is an internal issue of the Chinese people, so any such meeting should only occur on our own soil," Li said.

Source: Xinhua