On May 12, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao warmly greeted another important guest from Taiwan-People First Party Chairman James CY Soong who led a mainland-visiting delegation.

For half a month, two major political parties from Taiwan-the Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP) visited the mainland one after the other, and gained a number of achievements in their discussions with the mainland on strengthening exchanges between political parties on both sides of the Straits and promoting development of cross-Strait relations, this fact shows that the door for exchanges between political parties on both sides has been opened, and marks entry into the stage of substantive political dialogs.

The new pattern of cross-Strait interaction characterized by exchanges between political parties will open a new vista of hope and future for cross-Strait relations.

From 1987 up to the present, the number of Taiwan compatriots coming to the mainland has totaled 33.885 million persons/times, and the mainland has become the region for Taiwan's largest trade surplus, this change is attributed to the gradual accumulation of cross-Strait exchanges over the past two decades.

In 1979 the Chinese mainland published the "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan", taking the lead in proposing restoration of links of mail, trade and air and shipping services between the two sides of the Straits; in 1987 the KMT authorities allowed Taiwan people to visit their relatives on the mainland, which meant a warming up for cross-Strait exchanges; the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) reached the "92 Consensus" in 1992 , laying the foundation for all-round cross-Strait exchanges; the establishment of a channel for cross-Strait exchange by the Wang-Koo talks in 1993 also set off an upsurge in cross-Strait exchanges..., making it possible for separated relatives to get reunion, Taiwan businesspeople on the mainland to have business opportunities, and the hearts of the people on both sides of the Straits, once isolated and estranged, to get closer to each other.

Just at the moment when the sun was bright, the wind gentle and the people were in good mood, the "two-states theory" dished out by Lee Teng-hui in 1999 caused a sudden change in the situation over the sky of the Taiwan Straits, his successor, inconsistent in words and deeds, refused to acknowledge the "92 Consensus" that embodies the one-China principle, thus undermining the foundation for cross-Strait exchanges and leading cross-Strait dialogs to a deadlock in recent years.

At this moment, the erection of a platform for exchanges between political parties on both sides makes people feel pleasantly surprised at the"emergence of a way out ahead".

The foundation of this platform is adherence to the "92 Consensus" and resolute opposition to "Taiwan independence". We are happy to see that the communiqu�� published after the talks between General Secretary Hu Jintao and Chairman James Soong presents the "Consensus" reached between the ARATS and SEF by words of mouth more clearly in the form of writing, making the political foundation for inter-party exchanges and consultations and dialogs between the two sides of the Strait more distinct.

In welcoming James Soong and his retinue, General Secretary Hu Jintao said, "As leaders of the political parties of the two sides, we should stand high and gaze far, keep pace with the times, comply with popular will and exert ourselves and press on."

Regarding this, Chairman James Soong also indicated, "Working for the well-being of the people, and not building up influence for political party". People's well-being means solidarity and cooperation, reciprocity and win-win between the two sides of the Straits.

The popular feeling and popular will manifested recently on Taiwan Island also indicates that hope for cross-Strait conciliation and a win-win situation is the wish of the overwhelming majority of the Taiwan people. To have a clear understanding of popular will needs wisdom, to comply with popular will needs courage.

Taiwan children are eagerly expecting to have a photo taken with the panda. The orchard workers in the central-south part of Taiwan Island are waiting for an early trip to the mainland. Taiwan's tourism operators have made early preparations for greeting tourists from the mainland, plus the multi-point consensus reached between the CPC and the PFP this time: spurring transportation, promoting direct trade and direct mail between the two sides, and boosting direct, two-way investments by enterprises between the two sides.... Each of which involves people's well-being.

Regarding whether one should seek immediate political benefits for oneself and one party in the manner of sudden left and sudden right, or one should comply with popular will and thus win applause from Chinese sons and daughters on both sides of the Straits and the world over, we hope the Taiwan authorities this time would not make a disappointing choice.

While meeting with Chairman James Soong and his party, General Secretary Hu Jintao reiterated, "So long as one accepts the one-China principle and acknowledges the ��92 Consensus', no matter what one is and no matter which political party, and regardless of what they said and did in the past, we are willing to talk with them on questions concerning development of cross-Strait relations and promotion of peaceful reunification, his sincerity and patience expressed in-between the lines are evident to all.

Although currently the Taiwan-based Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have not yet "discarded" their party program, the secessionist forces on the Island do not resign to their defeat and there still exist volatility and test to cross-Strait relations, the fruitful exchanges between political parties of the two sides have given us added longing and confidence in springtime this year.

We wish this would always remain so, and there would be phenological newness every year!

Published on the front page of People's Daily Overseas Edition May 13, this article is translated by People's Daily Online