In a sign of warming relations, China has invited the head of Taiwan’s incoming ruling party to visit the mainland, the Chinese official news agency said Saturday.

Taiwan’s Nationalist Party Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung was asked to come to China by President Hu Jintao and the ruling communist party’s Central Committee, Xinhua News Agency reported.

“The Taiwan compatriots have been active in making donations and offering help in various forms after the devastating earthquake in Wenchuan of Sichuan Province on May 12,” Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, told Xinhua.

He did not give details of the proposed visit but said his office would consult with the Nationalist Party “as soon as possible.”

A Nationalist spokeswoman declined to comment on China’s invitation Saturday, but Party Secretary-general Wu Den-yih was scheduled to respond Saturday afternoon in a press conference.

The Nationalist Party will become Taiwan’s ruling party when Ma Ying-jeou is sworn in as president Tuesday. Relations between China and Taiwan seemed to improve as soon as Ma’s election win became clear in March.

China had been deeply suspicious of outgoing Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, who supports formal independence for Taiwan. Taiwan and China, which split during civil war in 1949, have banned regular direct links and other formal contacts as political disputes persist, but that’s beginning to change.

Taiwan’s offer of help was one of the first that China accepted after the earthquake, which has killed more than 22,000.

Taiwan’s Red Cross has said China agreed to accept a 20-person emergency relief team from the island. Taiwan also is sending a cargo plane with tents and medical supplies.

“With positive changes of the current situation in Taiwan, Wu’s visit will be conducive to strengthening the communication and dialogue of the two parties and will push forward the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations,” Chen told Xinhua.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Ma made it clear that he has no intention of following Chen’s pro-independence path but said unification with China is unlikely “in our lifetimes.”

Beijing continues to view the island as part of its territory.

China already has started pursuing relations with Ma’s party. Late last month, Hu met with Lien Chan, honorary chairman of the party, in Beijing and talked of “laying aside disputes.” A visit by Lien in 2005 was the first by a Nationalist Party chairman since the Nationalists fled the mainland in 1949.