This is the first visit to the Chinese mainland by a leader of the Kuomintang since 2009. Before leaving for Beijing, Eric Chu said it was important for Taiwan's ruling party to maintain a good relationship with the Communist Party of China.

"The relationship between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party obviously is not the same as the cross-strait relationship. And the cross-strait relationship is not the same as the relationship between the KMT and the CPC. But, the relationship between the KMT and the CPC is a very important exchange between the two political parties. " "We will continue to develop relations between the Mainland and Taiwan based on the 1992 Consensus. We want to enhance economic cooperation, and sign up to the AIIB and the RCEP. I will explain to everybody on May the 4th, following my meetings in Beijing, whether or not there is a conclusion," he said.