Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian is calling on China to agree to bilateral official visits in an effort to revive stalled talks, even as Beijing issues a new warning to the island.

Mr. Chen said Tuesday that he is willing to send representatives to China or welcome Chinese visitors. He spoke in a teleconference address to students and professors at Harvard University in the United States.

He said the two sides can avoid suspicion and resolve their differences only through dialogue and contact.

Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province and insists that it first accept the so-called "one China principle," which says the island is an inseparable part of China.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Tuesday warned Taiwan against changing the name of its overseas offices. He was reacting to a reported decision by Taiwan to rename them "Taiwan Representative Offices."

The offices are currently called "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Offices," and, in effect, function as embassies in countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The Chinese spokesman said changing the name would increase tensions between the two sides.

The planned Taiwanese action was reported by Hong Kong newspapers.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.

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