General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Hu Jintao and visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Honorary Chairman Lien Chan underscored peace and development across the Taiwan Straits in their meeting in Beijing Sunday.

 

"Peace and development should be the theme of cross-Straits relations, and the common goal of the people both in the mainland and Taiwan," Hu said.

 

The denial of the "1992 consensus" caused setbacks in cross-Straits relations, he said.

 

Hu said that adhering to the "1992 consensus" (referring to the common belief that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China) is the vital foundation for peace and development across the Taiwan Straits.

 

Although China is not reunified yet, the fact that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China has not changed, and the bonds of flesh and blood between compatriots on both sides of the strait have not changed, he said.

 

Hu recalled that 14 years ago it was based on the above-mentioned common understanding and their wish to seek common ground while shelving differences that the two sides reached the "1992 consensus," which resulted in the "Wang-Koo Talks" in 1993.

 

The "Wang-Koo Talks" refers to the landmark meeting in 1993 between Wang Daohan, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Koo Chen-fu, chairman of the Taiwan-based Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF), in Singapore in April 1993. It was the first ever high-level, non-governmental talks across the Taiwan Straits.

 

Lien said peace was the basis for cross-Straits prosperity and development. Compatriots from both sides of the Straits should face up to the challenges and continue to pursue peace, so as to create economic prosperity on both sides of the Straits.

 

The mainland is creating a miracle with a growth rate of about 10 percent for 27 years, he noted.

 

"Peace and prosperity live together, for if there is no peace, there will be no prosperity, and only peace creates opportunities for us to pursue prosperity," he said.

 

Lien arrived on Thursday leading a KMT delegation to attend a cross-Straits economic and trade forum, which closed on Saturday.

 

Hu extended warm congratulations on the behalf of the CPC Central Committee for the success of the forum.

 

"The two-day forum is an important activity for the two parties to continue exchanges and dialog," Hu said.

 

The mainland announced at the forum a new package of beneficial policies to promote cross-Straits economic and trade relations, and the participants also passed joint proposals for closer economic and trade ties across the Straits.

 

The 15 new favorable policies announced by the mainland pointed out a new direction for the future cross-Straits economic and trade development, Lien told Hu.

 

Both sides should endeavor toward peace and opening-up, as cross-Straits relations are now in a seesaw struggle between peace and opening-up on one side and conflicts and closure on the other, said Lien.

 

Hu emphasized that a mutually complementary and beneficial relationship is the effective way for realizing peaceful development across the Taiwan Straits.

 

Referring to the so-called "marginalization" of Taiwan, he urged some people in Taiwan not to "marginalize themselves."

 

Hu and Lien met for the first time in Beijing a year ago when Lien, then chairman of the KMT party, had an "ice-breaking" journey to the mainland. It was also the first meeting between top leaders of the CPC and KMT in 60 years.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2006)