China's Taiwan Affairs Office said on its website Wednesday that office director Chen Yunlin was expected to attend an agricultural cooperation forum to be hosted by Taiwan's leading opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party in mid-October.

Chen's delegation would comprise some 60 members including officials and businessmen, the office said. He would have been the highest Chinese government official ever to visit the island, which Beijing regards as part of its territory awaiting reunification -- by force if necessary.

Su cited Beijing's lingering hostility and rejected Chen's visit.

"Chinese tourists are welcome to visit Taiwan...They are welcome to come here to look around. As a democracy, Taiwan should have confidence in itself," he told a press conference.

"But Taiwan is also a sovereign country. If Chen Yunlin comes here to exercise united-front tactics, then there is no need to consider it (his visit)," Su said.

Taiwan last October rejected Chen's application to attend a trade conference, also sponsored by the KMT.

KMT spokesman Chang Jung-kung urged the government of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party not to be constrained by what he termed a "outdated united-front concept."

"Otherwise leaders of the two sides would forever not have the chance to meet," Chang said, adding that Chen's visit would have helped improve agricultural cooperation and benefited local farmers.

The premier said exchanges between Taipei and Beijing should be based on "equal and mutually beneficial principles."

Joseph Wu, chairman of Taiwan's cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council, had been unable to visit Hong Kong due to Beijing's pressure, he added.

Wu said Tuesday Taiwan hoped to allow more mainland tourists by the end of the year but its main policy on ties with Beijing remained unchanged.

China was hostile towards Taiwan and so President Chen Shui-bian's dictum of "proactive management, effective liberalization" remains the guiding principle, Wu said.

The policy tightens curbs on mainland-bound investments. The government has urged local businesses not to become over-dependent on the China market.

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