People from both sides of the Taiwan Straits will benefit from closer economic ties, P.K. Chiang, vice-chairman of the Taiwan-based Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT), said yesterday.

Chiang, who arrived in Nanjing yesterday, said Taiwan businesses and investors in the mainland will help the economic development in the Yangtze River Delta.

Li Yuanchao, secretary of Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said during his meeting with Chiang that the local government will continue to provide quality services to Taiwan businessmen and protect their interests.

Chiang and his delegation are scheduled to pay tribute to Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum and the Presidential Palace this morning.

Dr Sun Yat-sen is the pioneer of Chinese revolution and the founding father of the republic.

During a trip to Guangzhou earlier yesterday, Chiang reiterated that most Taiwan people seek long-term peace, stability and development.

He said he hoped his ongoing mainland trip will bring the views of Taiwan residents to the mainland and enhance mutual understanding.

"KMT always seeks to solve cross-Straits issues through dialogue and negotiations," Chiang told reporters in Guangzhou yesterday morning, after he visited the Huanghuagang 72-Martyrs Cemetery in downtown Guangzhou.

On behalf of KMT Chairman Lien Chan and all the KMT party members, Chiang paid homage to the martyrs who were slain during the Huanghuagang Uprising in Guangzhou in 1911.

"I feel a bit sad while cherishing the memory of the KMT martyrs," said Chiang.

Chiang and his wife laid wreaths at the tombs and watered a 101-year-old pine tree that was planted by Dr Sun Yat-sen, the founder and premier of the KMT.

Dr Sun Yat-sen died in 1925 at the age of 59.

Chiang and his delegation received a warm welcome from Taiwan investors in Guangdong as well as from local residents while he was visiting the commemoration park.

Many Taiwan investors are expecting Chiang's mainland trip to help ease current cross-Straits tension.

Frank Tsai, executive director of Airmate Electrical (Shenzhen) Co Ltd, said many Taiwan investors are hoping Chiang's mainland visit will contribute to a further improvement in cross-Straits relations, benefiting many Taiwan investors on the mainland. Tsai urged Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian to give up his "independence" activities.

"As a leader of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian should focus his efforts on boosting economic development and trying to ensure Taiwan people live better lives, instead of frequently challenging the mainland's bottom line," Tsai told China Daily yesterday.

Chiang promised he would try to help Taiwan investors overcome their difficulties while doing business on the mainland.

Guangdong Province has attracted the largest number of Taiwan investors in the country.

The province, the home of Dr Sun Yat-sen, has registered about 300,000 Taiwan investors and their families.

Guangdong has seen more than 18,440 Taiwan-funded projects with a total investment of more than US$35.6 billion.

Chiang and his delegation will also visit Beijing and meet senior officials from the Communist Party of China before the end of their trip on Friday.

(China Daily March 30, 2005)