A delegation led by China's top official in charge of tourism will visit Taiwan next week in a sign of a thaw in bilateral relations, the island's Mainland Affairs Council said on Saturday.
But the council, which formulates policy towards Beijing, said the 66-member group led by Shao Qiwei, head of China National Tourism Administration, would not engage in any talks with Taiwan officials during their 10-day visit.
China offered to let mainland tourists visit the self-ruled island it claims as its own in May and called for negotiations with Taipei on details.
Taiwan responded by authorising a private group, the Travel Agent Association, to handle talks with its Chinese counterpart. It was no clear if any talks had taken place, however.
"The purpose of the visit is very simple. They are here to visit tourist spots and inspect accommodation and dining facilities," the council said in a statement.
"They have no other schedule and will not involve in cross-Strait negotiations," it said.
The delegation is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan on October 28. China has refused to deal directly with Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian since he took office in 2000, unless Chen first renounces his pro-independence stance.
China has restricted visits by its citizens to Taiwan since 1949, when the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek fled to the island at the end of the Chinese civil war. A limited number of mainlanders have been able to travel there on business.