Ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Secretary-General King Pu-tsung and Kuo Tian-tsai, the party's candidate in the upcoming Tainan mayoral election, departed for Japan Wednesday to promote party diplomacy and enhance Kuo's profile ahead of the poll. Kuo said prior to his departure from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport that he will issue a 'tourism and culture white paper' while in Kyoto to lay out his vision for Tainan's future development. He also indicated that he hopes to gain insight on how Kyoto has turned its rich historical heritage into a strong foundation for tourism because Tainan has much in common with Japan's ancient capital. King's delegation will also visit Tokyo, where King said he will meet with influential politicians from both the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party and Tokyo's deputy governor. Known as one of the most-trusted advisers of President Ma Ying-jeou, who doubles as KMT chairman, King will also meet with members of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan during his stay in Tokyo. Meanwhile, King and Kuo will attend a get-out-the-vote rally of Taiwanese expatriates in the Tokyo and Yokohama area to drum up support for KMT candidates running in Nov. 27 mayoral elections in Taiwan's five special municipalities. Other members of King's entourage include KMT lawmakers Lin Hung-chi and Lee Hung-chun. After concluding the Japan visit on Sept. 19, King will travel directly to Singapore where he will be joined by Huang Chao-shun, the KMT's candidate in the mayoral race in Kaohsiung. King's Sept. 19-21 Singapore visit is also seen as an attempt to boost Huang's campaign bid. The KMT is fighting uphill battles in Tainan and Kaohsiung, both of which have long been controlled by the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party. 