Taipei - The World Health Organization (WHO) is allowing Taiwan to attend its annual assembly as an observer, marking progress in Taipei's fight to end its international isolation, a Taiwan official said Wednesday. Health Minister Yeh Chin-chuan told parliament that the WHO has invited Taiwan to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA), which is to open May 18 in Geneva, as an observer.

The invitation was issued by WHO Secretary General Margaret Chan Tuesday, apparently because of improved ties between Taiwan and China.

President Ma Ying-jeou said Taiwan's efforts have finally born fruit and instructed Yeh to make preparations to attend the assembly.

"Taiwan had tried in vain to attend the WHA since 1997," Ma said in a statement. "After repeated efforts by the government which was formed on May 20 last year, we have finally won the chance to take part in the WHA this May."

He attributed the success to "goodwill" from China as reflected by China President Hu Jintao's remarks late last year that Beijing would not oppose Taipei joining such international organizations as the assembly.

Ma, of the China-friendly Nationalist Party, took over from pro-independence Chen Shui-bian as president in May. Since then, he has adopted a policy to engage China to ease cross-strait hostility that has prevailed since the two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949.

Ma said efforts by both the ruling and opposition parties plus support from the United States, Japan, the European Union, South-East Asia, New Zealand and Australia as well as Taiwan's official allies had helped the island win observer status.

Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, however, said she did not think winning observer status was worth noting.

"It seems the invitation for Taiwan to join the WHA is a one-time bid, obviously with the approval from China," she said.

Tsai said Ma's policy to befriend China even at the expanse of Taiwan's sovereignty was the major reason that Beijing did not oppose the island attending the assembly.

She said if Ma bucks Beijing's will in the future, the island might not be able to attend the assembly as an observer.

Taiwan lost its WHO seat in 1972, one year after it was expelled from the United Nations.

Since then, China has barred Taiwan from rejoining UN-affiliated organizations, claiming Taiwan is China's breakaway province.

Besides the WHO, Taiwan is also seeking to rejoin the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other organizations, with the main goal of rejoining the United Nations.(dpa)