Beijing, May 11, SPA -- Taiwan opposition politician James Soong has called for closer ties between China and his self-ruled island as he prepares to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao. "We all have a common responsibility to advance cross-Taiwan Strait ties," James Soong said in a speech at Hunan University in southern China. "All of the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation are watching to see if we can shoulder this responsibility." Soong, whose party favors eventual re-unification with the mainland, is due to meet Hu on Thursday, CNN reported. He is the second senior opposition figure from Taiwan to visit mainland China in recent weeks.--SPA1304 Local Time 1004 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/261493