The Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Raymond Burghardt, is scheduled to arrive in Taipei this weekend for a brief visit.

The AIT Kaohsiung branch made the announcement in a news release on Thursday. Burghadt is the top US liaison officer with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties between the two countries.

During his stay Burghardt will meet with President Chen Shui-bian. He will also meet with the candidates in next year's presidential elections, Frank Hsieh and Ma Ying-jeou.