BEIJING -- State Council Taiwan Affairs Office Director Wang Yi started a "working visit" to the United States on Wednesday, announced a mainland spokesperson.

Wang will meet senior officials of U.S. departments, exchange views with their think-tank experts and visit Taiwanese compatriots living in the United States, Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular press conference.

It is an annual routine visit for the director of the Taiwan Affairs Office.