Siew, a seed member of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), has attended the Boao Forum every year since its inception in 2001, but with Chinese President Hu Jintao also scheduled to attend, whether Siew will be able to make the trip remains uncertain.

The BFA is a non-governmental, not-for-profit international organization modelled after the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. During an interview with CNA Friday, President-elect Ma Ying-jeou said he is unaware whether Siew will attend this year's BFA meeting.

"I need to ask Siew about his intention before answering your question in this regard," Ma told CNA interviewers.

Asked whether it would be strange if Siew is absent from this year's meeting scheduled for April 10-13, Ma simply answered: "Yes."

Sources familiar with the Boao Forum for Asia said Siew has consistently thrown his full support to its activities over the past year, but following the March 22 presidential election, the situation may have changed. "With his election as Taiwan's next vice president, his status has changed and it has become very sensitive as to whether he will attend the forum's upcoming conference, " said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

It was said that former Council of Labor Affairs Minister Chan Hou-shen, a close Siew friend, will attend the upcoming Boao Forum meeting.

China frowns at the appearance of any high-ranking Taiwanese government official at international conferences or forums, even in organizations such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in which Taiwan is a full-fledged member.

Siew, a former premier and economics minister, has attended the annual Boao Forum in his capacity as chairman of the Cross-Strait Common Market in the past few years. Siew also proposed at that time that the two sides strengthen cooperation in mutually beneficial financial, agricultural and energy resource development.

The founding of the forum was driven by the People's Republic of China and founded by 26 Australasian states on Feb.27, 2001. It has its fixed address in Boao, Hainan, China, although the Secretariat is based in Beijing.

The BFA holds a high level annual forum for representatives from government, business, and academia with the focus on economics, integration, cooperation, social issues, and the environment.

In addition to its annual meeting, the organization also sponsors other forums and meetings related to Asian issues.

Besides Hu, Australian Prime Minister Kein Rudd, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and top leaders of 10-plus other countries will also attend this year's forum, according to BFA sources.