TAIPEI, April 2, 2009 (AFP) - China will send its first official delegation to Asia's biggest annual information technology show in Taiwan in June, organisers said Thursday, a further sign of warming cross-Strait ties.

A group of 110 exhibitors from the mainland will attend the 29th Computex Taipei, said the semi-official Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), which is event co-sponsor with the Taipei Computer Association.

China's official participation in the show is "certainly the result of warming cross-Strait ties," said Jeremy Horng, deputy executive director of TAITRA's exhibition department.

The move comes just a year after 23 electronics companies from the mainland attended the event in secret due to a blanket ban imposed by Beijing on Chinese firms attending.

China still regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification by force if necessary, although the two sides have been governed separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.

However, ties between the two have improved dramatically since Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang became president last May promising to boost cross-strait trade and tourism.

TAITRA said the severe global economic crisis has had little impact on this year's exhibition, which takes place from June 2-6 and will draw 1,800 exhibitors using 4,700 booths, almost the same as last year.

The organisers estimate it will see orders placed worth up to US$20 billion.