Senior Taiwan opposition figure visits mainland

Frank Hsieh, the most senior member of Taiwan's opposition party ever to visit the Chinese mainland, met State Councilor Dai Bingguo and the mainland's top cross-Straits negotiator Chen Yunlin on Sunday.

Dai and Hsieh "exchanged views on issues of common concern" during the meeting in Beijing, Xinhua News Agency reported, without revealing further details.

In another report seen on taihainet.com, a website affiliated to Fujian-based Strait Herald newspaper, Hsieh said he and Dai talked about a range of issues including Taiwan's role in the international arena, since Dai is in charge of foreign affairs.

Previously, Hsieh had also met Chen Yunlin, the mainland's top negotiator on Taiwan affairs, during which Hsieh said he had discussed the difficulties that Taiwan businesspeople, especially those from small enterprises, have encountered on the mainland, Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV reported.

Frank Hsieh was the candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party in the 2008 Taiwan leadership election, losing to Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang Party. He retains major influence in the opposition party.