Chairman James CY Soong of the People First Party (PFP) in Taiwan arrived at Shanghai Saturday afternoon for the third leg of his nine-day mainland visit.The delegation received a warm welcome at the airport.

SHANGHAI, May 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Chairman James CY Soong of the People First Party (PFP) in Taiwan arrived at Shanghai Saturday afternoon for the third leg of his nine-day mainland visit.

    After the arrival, Soong said in a brief speech at the airport that the PFP delegation aims to learn in Shanghai about China's reform and opening up, the earnest expectations for cross-Straits "three direct links" from Taiwan businessmen and the potential andhope of China's future development.

    "In the flight from Nanjing to Shanghai, I noticed so many plants and modern construction projects on the ground. They are a major indication of China's development and exciting developments that need to be learned and valued," said Soong,

    "All of us hope the two sides of the Taiwan Straits will becomea factory and market of the world, not a battlefield," said Soong."This is an important issue that needs to be tackled seriously by compatriots on both sides."

    Also in Shanghai dialect, Soong's wife Viola Chen said "people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one family now and forever".

    During his stay in Shanghai, Soong is expected to meet with senior officials of the Shanghai municipal committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Wang Daohan, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits.He will also meet with Taiwan businessmen in the metropolis.

Chairman James CY Soong of the People First Party (R) asked his wife Viola Chen to give a brief speech using Shanghai dialect after his speech at the airport.

    Before leaving Nanjing for Shanghai, Soong said in a send-off banquet given by secretary of the Jiangsu provincial committee of the CPC Li Yuanchao on Saturday noon that "the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are descendants of the 'dragon.' They should keep in mind their common ancestors and work together for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

    Soong and his delegation arrived at Xi'an on the afternoon of May 5 to begin their mainland trip at the invitation of the CPC Central Committee and its General Secretary Hu Jintao. After Xi'anand Nanjing, they are also scheduled to visit Changsha and Beijing before returning to Taiwan on May 13. Enditem