Wu Po-hsiung, honorary chairman of the Kuomintang party, arrived in Meizhou, Guangdong province, on Thursday, to attend a local cultural and arts festival.

The arrival was part of Wu's one-week visit to Fujian and Guangdong provinces, where he will attend a series of cultural exchange activities between Taiwan and the mainland.

Wu will also go to Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong, to visit the Huanghuagang Martyrs Cemetery on Saturday, the China News Service reported.

The festival in Meizhou, which features Hakka culture and arts, is scheduled to open on Friday.

A total of 240 Taiwan?businessmen also took a direct flight, the first between Kaohsiung in Taiwan and Meizhou, on Thursday afternoon.

Taiwan has some 1.8 million Hakka people that originated from Meizhou, which is dubbed the Hakka capital. More than 200 companies, with a combined investment of up to $100 million, have been created by Taiwan investors in Meizhou.

At present, more than 100 million Hakka people live in 81 countries and regions, according to Li Yuanqing, vice-mayor of Meizhou.

More than 20 Hakka groups and 1,500 renowned Hakka people from 14 countries and regions will attend the culture festival.

"The festival will help to promote Hakka culture and enhance exchanges between Meizhou and Taiwan," Li said.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn