Wang Yu-chi, Taiwan's mainland affairs chief, will lead a delegation to visit the Chinese mainland next month, a mainland spokesman announced on Tuesday.

The delegation is scheduled to visit Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, and Shanghai between Feb. 11 and 14, said Ma Xiaoguang with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

Zhang Zhijun, head of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, will meet Wang during his visit, and the two will exchange views on issues concerning relations across the Taiwan Strait, Ma said.

The spokesman hailed Wang's visit as "an important move" to promote development of cross-Strait relations on the basis of adhering to the "1992 consensus" and deepening mutual political trust.

"We hope and believe that this important step by both sides of the Strait will be conducive to enhancing communication and understanding as well as to the joint promotion of future development of cross-Strait ties," he said.

As Taiwan's first sitting mainland affairs chief to visit the mainland, Wang said he shoulders heavy responsibility and has a long way to go during a press conference in Taipei on Tuesday.

The upcoming visit signifies further institutionalization of cross-Strait relations, Wang said.

The visit, which marks the beginning of mutual visits between the chiefs of cross-Strait affairs from both sides, is aimed at carrying out pragmatic discussions and boosting the progress of cross-Strait issues, according to Wang.

Wang said he hopes cross-Strait relations will continue their peaceful and steady development in the new year, which is in line with the interests of people on both sides of the Strait.

The delegation, which is comprised of more than 20 people, will visit Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum in Nanjing, deliver speeches at Nanjing University, and visit Radio and Television Shanghai, according to the agenda.