Taiwan opposition leader Lien Chan yesterday urged the island to adopt a fresh approach to relations with the mainland and turn its back on half a century of cross-Straits conflict.

Speaking on the eve of his historic visit to the mainland, the chairman of the Kuomintang party (KMT) told reporters there will be no limits on what subjects he will discuss with mainland leaders during the week-long trip.

Lien is scheduled to hold talks with Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China this Friday in the first top-level meeting between the two parties since 1949.

"I will be modest and objective and will try to understand the other side's stance. There will be no limits to the topics for discussion," said Lien.

"It takes joint efforts.... to create a win-win situation and prevent a disaster that would involve both."

Lien acknowledged the bitter history between the Koumintang and the CPC in 20s-40s of the 20th century which ended in a bloody conflict.

"But now cross-Straits exchanges should no longer be hampered by the mindset of civil war," he said.

"We must not continue to harbour the old mindset of the 1930s or 1950s."

Lien will head a 60-member delegation for the eight-day "journey of peace" which will take him to Nanjing, Beijing, his birthplace Xi'an and Shanghai.

The KMT leader said he hopes to lay the groundwork for improved relations and closer trade links with the mainland.

He was expected to brief Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian yesterday afternoon about his mainland trip.

Chen earlier warned Lien against falling into "traps" set up by the mainland and threatened to charge Lien with treason if he signs any deals without government authorization during the mainland visit.

But Chen softened his stance over the weekend and said Lien could use the journey to "toss a stone to test the water" of reconciliation.

Meanwhile, headed by Secretary-General Chin Chin-Sheng, a delegation from the opposition People First Party (PFP) began talks with the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee in Beijing on Sunday.

The schedule of Soong's mainland trip is expected to be announced on Wednesday.

Source: China Daily