A top official at Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry reportedly traveled to Japan in January and met Nissan Motor executives about a possible partnership.

Taiwan's Central News Agency quoted a source as saying Hon Hai Chief Strategy Officer Seki Jun arrived in Japan before the Lunar New Year.

The report said Seki had received instructions from Chairman Young Liu to discuss a possible tie-up.

Seki is a former Nissan executive who now heads the Taiwanese firm's electric vehicle division.

A Hon Hai public relations official has declined to comment on the report.

The Taiwanese electronic giant has been working on a plan to acquire a stake in Nissan and join its management.

Nissan has been engaged in merger talks with Honda Motor since December.

But Nissan rejected a proposal to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda, and the negotiations are expected to end.