Mainland chief negotiator on Taiwan affairs Chen Yunlin said in Beijing Thursday that his upcoming visit to Taiwan will focus mainly on economic issues.

"The mission of the visit is clear and well-defined," said Chen, chairman of mainland's Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS). "No political issues pertaining to cross-strait relations will be involved, nor will Taiwan's internal political affairs."

Chen will head a delegation to Taiwan from Nov. 3 to 7, during which he will meet with Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman Chiang Pin-kung.

He said one of his missions is to discuss with Chiang cross-strait direct shipping, air transport, postal services, food safety and tourism cooperation.

Another mission is to exchange views on financial cooperation to withstand the international financial crisis, he said.

Chen's Taiwan visit will be the second meeting between the ARATS and the SEF in the last 10 years. The first, attended by Chiang Pin-kung, was held in Beijing in June.

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2008)