Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou on Monday named a close ally and former vice president to represent him at the APEC economic summit, reflecting easing relations with Beijing.

"President Ma has appointed Mr Lien Chan as the leader's representative' at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Singapore on November 8, the president's office said.

Taiwanese presidents are barred from APEC summits due to objections from China, which regards the island as part of its territory, and are usually represented by senior economic advisers or business leaders.

But Lien, vice president in the Kuomintang government from 1996 to 2000, became the most senior envoy ever to represent Taiwan at last year's APEC meeting.

This was seen as a reflection of warming ties between Taipei and Beijing, following the election of the China-friendly Ma earlier in the year.

In contrast, the pro-independence government of the Democratic Progressive Party was forced to name a computer company founder to represent the island at the 2007 APEC summit after Beijing reportedly blocked a former vice premier.

Lien in 2005 became the first KMT leader to visit the mainland in 56 years, meeting Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Taiwan was forced to use the name Chinese Taipei when joining APEC in 1991 after Beijing insisted it had no right to join world bodies as a country.