Friday, August 31, 2007

Yao Ming to visit Taiwan

act_yao_ming
(Source: nba.com)

According to a Central News Agency report, Yao Ming was finally granted for a permission to visit Taiwan from Sept. 7-9 by Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), which had previously rejected Yao's visit.

Noted Chinese NBA player to visit Taiwan Sept. 7-9
Taipei, Aug. 30 (CNA) Yao Ming, the best-known Chinese basketball player, is scheduled to visit Taiwan Sept. 7-9 for sports exchanges and public-interest activities, government sources said Thursday.
Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Chen Ming-tong said Yao, who is considered one of the best centers in the U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) , is welcome to visit Taiwan as a basketball professional to help boost athletic exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.
It will be Yao's first visit to Taiwan since he became an NBA player in 2002. He previously visited Taiwan in 1997 and 2000 for amateur basketball contests with local players.
Chen said Yao should focus on sports-related or public-interest activities during his stay and refrain from any fund-raising activities.
The Cabinet-level MAC, which charts Taiwan's policies toward China , called a special meeting Thursday to screen Yao's application to visit Taiwan. The application was approved during the meeting.