Beijing ? China announced tariff cuts on imports of fruit and fish from Taiwan, offering the self-ruled island new trade concessions Saturday in an effort to boost sentiment for uniting with the communist mainland.

The announcement came during a visit to Beijing by Taiwan’s former opposition leader, who is calling for increased trade ties between the island and the mainland.

Beijing is trying to isolate Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian by forging ties with his political opposition and offering trade concessions to appeal to Taiwan’s farmers.

In Taiwan, the government body responsible for ties with China called on the mainland to open direct talks with Taiwan’s government on trade issues.

The two sides split amid civil war in 1949 and have no official relations, but China claims Taiwan as part of its territory. The mainland has promised to pursue peaceful unification but also has threatened to attack if the island pursues formal independence.