Former Taiwan Leader to Make First Visit to Beijing

What’s new: Former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou will make his second ever trip to the Chinese mainland in April, during which he will visit Beijing for the first time, mainland authorities announced Monday.

The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council (TAO) welcomed Ma’s visit, spokesperson Chen Binhua said in a statement Monday. Beijing hopes the two sides can jointly promote exchanges and cooperation and advance the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, Chen added.