James CY Soong (R), chairman of the People First Party (PFP), and his wife arrive at the Hong Kong international airport from Taipei, May 5, 2005. Soong and the PFP delegation led by him arrived here at 10:52 (0252 GMT) before starting a nine-day mainland visit. (Xinhua Photo)

James CY Soong (2nd R), chairman of the People First Party (PFP), and his wife receive bouquets of flowers upon their arrival at the Hong Kong international airport on May 5, 2005.(Xinhua Photo)

     HONG KONG, May 5 (Xinhuanet) -- James CY Soong, chairman of the People First Party (PFP), arrived at the Hong Kong international airport from Taipei Thursday morning by an Eva Air flight BR 865 before starting a nine-day mainland visit.

    Soong and the PFP delegation led by him arrived at the airport at 10:52 (0252 GMT) and will take the China Southern Airlines Flight CZ 3011 at about 12:45 (0445 GMT) to Xi'an, the first leg of their mainland visit.

    They were greeted at the airport by Xing Kuishan, Assistant to the Director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Central Committee ofthe Communist Party of China (CPC), and Stephen Lam Sui-lung, secretary for constitutional affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.

James CY Soong (C), chairman of the People First Party (PFP), is greeted by Xing Kuishan (Front R), Assistant to the Director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), upon his arrival at the Hong Kong international airport on May 5, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)

James CY Soong (L), chairman of the People First Party (PFP), is greeted by Stephen Lam Sui-lung (R), secretary for constitutional affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, upon his arrival at the Hong Kong international airport on May 5, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)

    Two Hong Kong girls presented banquets of flowers to Soong and his wife.

    Soong and the delegation, at the invitation of the CPC Central Committee and its General Secretary Hu Jintao, are to visit the mainland cities of Xi'an, Nanjing, Shanghai, Changsha and Beijing between May 5 and May 13.

    During Soong's stay in Beijing, Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and other leaders of the CPC Central Committee will meet with the PFP delegation and have formal talks with James CY Soong.

    Soong and the delegation are expected to arrive in Xi'an at about 15:00 (0700 GMT). Enditem