A delegation from China's southwestern province of Sichuan is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan Sunday and attend a procurement meeting in Taipei the following day, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) officials said Saturday. The delegation, led by Sichuan's communist party secretary Liu Qibao, is expected to place orders on Taiwan's agricultural and food products, consumer products, electrical appliances, flat panels, and machinery equipment, according to a TAITRA press release. A total of 56 Sichuan-based companies -- some of which are well-known companies with annual turnover of more than US$7 billion - will accompany Liu on the visit and will attend purchase meetings. The companies include Sichuan Changhong Group, Chengdu Construction Engineering Corporation, Sichuan Changzheng Machine Tool Group, Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co., and Sichuan Yadong Cement Co.. As several Chinese construction companies will also visit Taiwan with the delegation this time, that may generate some business opportunities for Taiwan to participate in the development of China's western regions, the TAITRA said. China's western development project is expected to become a major force to drive China's domestic demand in the next 10 years, it added. Liu, at the invitation of the Kuomintang (KMT) , will lead his delegation on exchange activities in the areas of economy, finance, education and culture during his seven-day visit -- which marks the latest in a series of visits by mainland heavyweights and provinces to Taiwan amid warming ties. Sichuan is the fifth largest province in China, with a population of 80 million people and gross domestic product of 1.4 trillion Chinese yuan. 