Lien Chan, former chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan's ruling party, will attend celebration events in Beijing to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45).

Fan Liqing, spokesperson with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, confirmed on Friday that veteran soldiers and civilians from Taiwan who fought for China's resistance against Japan during WWII and their families will also attend the celebration. Representatives from the island's various sectors have also been invited and will be present.

Forces led by the Communist Party of China and the KMT had fought together in the war.

"We hope that through remembrance of the victory, the history and the late heroes, people from two sides of the Taiwan Straits can carry on the WWII legacy and work together for the cross-Straits peace and the revival of Chinese nation," she said.

The KMT "presidential" candidate, Hung Hsiu-chu, also said that Lien's decision should be praised for being beneficial to cross-Straits exchange as his previous visits have been contributive to the cross-Straits relations, Taiwan media reported.