The deputy secretaries-general of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) met in April and July 1998 for talks on arranging the itinerary for the mainland visit by the SEF delegation led by SEF Chairman Koo Chen-fu. The two sides reached a partial consensus but were still unable to finalize a decision. In order promptly determine the itinerary arrangements and ensure that Chairman Koo's visit has substantive meaning, the SEF sent a letter to ARATS on September 3 proposing that Vice Chairman Shi Hwei-you lead a delegation to Beijing to determine related affairs. After the communication between the two sides, Vice Chairman Shih led a seven-person delegation including SEF Deputy Secretary-general Jan Jyh-horng to Beijing on September 22 to 24 for talks with ARATS officials. 

　　The delegation arrived in Beijing on the afternoon of September 22. The group was received at the airport by ARATS Secretary-general Zhang Jincheng. At the airport VIP area, Vice Chairman Shi explained the purpose of the visit to the local and international press. The delegation was then taken by motorcade to the Grand Hotel Beijing. That evening, ARATS Permanent Vice Chairman Tang Shubei arranged a reception banquet at the Diaoyutai Hotel. During the banquet he mentioned a "political dialogue." Vice Chairman Shi stated that the main purpose of the visit was to arrange the itinerary of the Koo-Wang Meeting and that related dialogue would be handled by Mr. Koo and Mr. Wang. 

　　On the morning of September 23, the SEF delegation led by Vice Chairman Shi met with the ARATS delegation led by Secretary-general Zhang Jincheng for talks at the Diaoyutai Hotel. The two sides discussed the itinerary of the Koo-Wang Meeting and came to the following general decisions: 

(1) Out of respect for Mr. Wang Daohan, the two sides agreed that Chairman Koo would first visit Shanghai and later proceed to Beijing. 

(2) The two sides agreed to arrange four meetings between Mr. Koo and Mr. Wang, including two meetings to exchange views (one official meeting and one meeting at the Beijing Opera Hall) and two banquet meetings. Each meeting would last from one to two hours. 

(3) The two sides agreed to arrange a visit to Biyun Temple in Xiangshan to pay respects at the tomb of Dr. Sun Yat-sen as well as a visit to Peking University and the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

(4) ARATS proposed that arrangements be made for Chairman Koo to meet with Jiang Zemin and Qian Qichen. The Taiwan side agreed to this arrangement for the convenience of the host and to create a proper mood. The two sides also agreed to arrange the visit for October 18. 

　　On the morning of September 24, Vice Chairman Shi invited the chairman of the Beijing Association for Taiwanese-invested Enterprises and others for a breakfast meeting. The two sides discussed the arrangement of a meeting between Chairman Koo and Taiwan businesspeople in the mainland. Vice Chairman Shi later led a delegation to call on ARATS, where the group was received by Mr. Tang Shubei. The two sides exchanged views on SEF-ARATS affairs, creating an atmosphere for the resumption of contacts between the two organizations. They also reached substantive consensus on the status of the SEF and ARATS as the sole authorized channel on their respective sides, as well as on specific mutual assistance and close contacts prior to the resumption of negotiations.