Kuomintang (KMT) party delegations from various Taiwan cities on Friday were well received in east China's Qingdao City and south China's Shenzhen City.

The visits were part of a program suggested by Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Lien Chan, head of KMT, in April to promote the relations between the two parties. Twelve cities from both sides of the Taiwan Straits were chosen to start the exchanges.

In Qingdao, a delegation of 34 Kuomintang party members from Changhua of Taiwan started its six-day visit.

The delegation on Friday was engaged in talks with officials in Qingdao concerning business, trade, farm produce, education and religion.

Xu Fuming, head of the delegation and a key member of KMT Changhua commission, said that Changhua is known for its agriculture. Leading agricultural officials in the delegation are interested in selling Taiwan fruits to the mainland and cooperating with Qingdao to develop farm produce.

The delegation will visit farms, fruit markets, and food processing companies in Qingdao.

Meanwhile, in Shenzhen, a delegation of 38 KMT members was received by secretary of the CPC Shenzhen City Committee LiHongzhong.

There are more than 100,000 Taiwan compatriots working and living in Shenzhen, which is home to 4,017 Taiwan-funded companies. The delegation will visit a few companies, wharfs, newspaper offices, residential communities and tourist facilities during their five-day visit.

(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2005)