"Welcome back", "We're members of the same family, please come back more often to have a look!", those sincere greetings from ordinary people can be heard everywhere the Chiang Pin-kun-led Taiwan-based KMT mainland visiting delegation went from Guangzhou to Nanjing and then to Beijing, during their tour, they worshipped the loyal souls, talked things about harmony and discussed matters concerning development. The simple and unadorned speeches by the common people are full of good intentions, experience of vicissitudes and expression of expectations.

The KMT delegation headed by Vice Chairman of the KTM Chiang Pin-kung paid homage to cenotaph of Sun Yet-sen in the Biyun Temple in Beijing on March 31. This is the first time in the past 56 years that KMT party has paid visit to the cenotaph.

Chinese are particular about "not forgetting the water sources while drinking water, and carefully attending to the funeral rites of parents and following them when gone with due sacrifices". Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the 72 martyrs in the Guangzhou-based Huanghuagang Cemetery command reverence among the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. When people from Taiwan come to see with their own eyes those well-preserved historical relics of our ancestors, they would definitely feel the true feelings of the mainland compatriots. As the saying goes, "Although they have died, their spirit will linger on forever", our forbear who had made tremendous contributions to the Chinese nation will be engraved forever in the memories of the people, and this has long been proved by history.

As far as the Chinese Kuomintang Party is concerned, this is the first time that it sent a visiting delegation to come over the past 56 years. The "tour of memories" once again connected up the thread ends of history, this indicates its act to carry on the historical tradition pioneered by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, to continue history and to seek a new way out in light of the changed situation across the Straits. After the KMT failed in the 2000 election, for a while it was at a loss what to do, and many of its members were in deep anxiety. In Taiwan's abnormal political atmosphere, anyone who advocated developing cross-Strait relations under the one-China principle would be charged with "betraying Taiwan"; Dr. Sun Yat-sen was even viewed as a "foreigner". Due to pressure from its political rivals on the Island, the KMT dared not loudly voiced its stand for dialogs and exchanges with the Chinese mainland. Recently, after experiencing a series of changes in the situation of cross-Strait ties, more and more Taiwan people have come to realize that Taiwan's economic development and political stability cannot be achieved without peace across the Taiwan Straits, and that the practice of frequently using such labels as "betraying Taiwan" to create cross-Strait antagonism and obstruct exchanges can only end up in Taiwan's self-restriction and self-damage, thus becoming increasingly unpopular. Under such circumstances, the KMT's dispatch of a high-level visiting delegation indicates its determination to do what it should. Lien Chan's recent remarks about that "Monkeys on the banks make continuous cries" indicate that the KMT, a "hundred-year-old store", can have something to do in participating in and promoting cross-Strait exchanges.

Taiwan people hope to live and work in peace and contentment. A peaceful life admits of no creation of crisis, and the enjoyment of work requires vitalization of the economy. The visiting delegation has brought with it the islanders' ardent hope for development of cross-Strait relations, the "economic and trading tour" complies with the actual needs of the Taiwan people. For example, on the question regarding facilitation of cross-Strait communications, the million-strong Taiwan businesspeople on the mainland have made anxious appeal, while Taiwan authorities have delayed giving response to this. The visiting delegation intends to promote the extension of the method of Spring Festival charter flights to other festivals, which is a matter beneficial to the Taiwan public. As an economist, Chiang Pin-kun has a deep cognition of the win-win and complementary role of cross-Strait economic and trading ties, he has time and again indicated: Taiwan's advantage lies in its closeness to the mainland, and Taiwan should have a firm grip of this advantage to develop its economy.

What a true remark he has made! The antagonism provoked by secessionist forces on the Island over the past few years has led to tension in cross-Strait relations, Taiwan's economy has taken a downturn accordingly, and external investment has experienced a plummet. How to recover Taiwan's economic boom? First of all, the fence hindering cross-Strait exchange and cooperation should be dismantled, wounds be healed and pain stopped, seeking a win-win result for both sides with Chinese wisdom. A poll on the Island shows that Chiang Pin-kun's present trip enjoys high support, which indicates that the majority of Taiwan people hope the two sides follow a road of pragmatic exchange, instead of a way of antagonism.

The Chinese mainland has repeatedly indicated that greatest efforts should be made to do whatever is beneficial to Taiwan compatriots. The mainland welcomes the efforts made by any one and any political party for advance in the direction toward the one-China principle.

Passing through smoke and clouds of history, people are expecting to learn more information about the river becoming warm in spring across the Straits and to see an enchanting sight in springtime.

Carried on the front page of People's Daily Overseas Edition March 31, the article is translated byPeople's Daily Online