TAIPEI, May 2 (AP) -- Taiwan's leader on Monday invited rival China to begin talks under the principles of peace, democracy and parity.

"The door for dialogue and negotiation is still open between the two sides," President Chen Shui-bian said in a speech. "Under the principles of democracy, peace and parity, the two sides can at any time begin to have contact, dialogue and negotiations."

Chen's remarks came after the leader of Taiwan's largest opposition party made a similar request at the end of a history-making tour of China.