Taiwanese newspapers anticipate cross-Straits visit

Taiwanese newspapers have eagerly anticipated the visit to the island of mainland Taiwan affairs chief Zhang Zhijun.

Zhang is scheduled to visit Taiwan from Wednesday to Saturday.

In a Tuesday article, United Daily News noted the political significance of Zhang being the first director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office to visit the island.

On Monday, Taiwan-based newspaper China Times started publishing special pages of stories to analyze Zhang's visit, including his exchanges with Taiwanese politicians, visits to remote areas of the island and communication with disadvantaged groups.

Zhang will seek peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and groups on the island should express their opinions in a rational way, according to an editorial in the paper.

The Tuesday edition of Taiwan's Want Daily featured an interview with Taiwanese entrepreneurs, who said that Zhang's visit is a milestone on the road to a cross-Straits service trade pact.

In another article citing academics, the Want Daily also predicted that Zhang's visit will have a positive influence on trade across the Taiwan Straits.

The Economic Daily News also published interviews with Taiwanese company owners, who expressed hope for communication across the Straits.