TAIPEI, Mar 12 (AP) -- Taiwan's former opposition leader is expected to discuss moves to maintain peace between the island and mainland China when he visits Beijing next month, a Taiwanese newspaper reported Sunday.

Lien Chan, former chairman of the opposition Nationalist Party, is slated to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao when he attends a trade forum in Beijing in April, the mass-market United Daily News reported.

Citing unnamed officials, the report said the two men may make a joint declaration on steps the two sides should take to help keep the peace. It would only be symbolic but could exert pressure on Taiwan's government to seek a formal peace deal with China.

Taiwan split from China after a civil war in 1949. Beijing claims that Taiwan is Chinese territory to be regained by force if necessary.

Lien is still the Nationalist Party's honorary chairman. He has repeatedly denounced President Chen Shui-bian for raising tensions with the mainland by making provocative statements, hinting the island should seek a formalization of its de facto independence.

Despite objections from Taiwan's government, Lien made a historic visit to the mainland in May 2005 -- two months before he stepped down as chairman of the Nationalist Party.

Lien met Hu in Beijing in the highest-level contact between the two rivals since they split. At the end of the meeting, they issued a joint pledge to promote an end to hostilities between the two sides.

The pledge was short on details, which the upcoming meeting was expected to flesh out, the report said.

Nationalist officials were unavailable to comment Sunday on Lien's reported visit.