Lien Chan says his mainland visit fruitful

Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan said in the United States that his recent "tour of peace" to the Chinese mainland is fruitful and of historical significance. He hoped that the international community can encourage the two sides across the Taiwan Straits, especially the Taiwan authorities, to seize the opportunity and accept the goodwill and resume cross-Straits dialog.

Lien made the remarks on July 19 at a press conference in the United States.

Lien attended in the White House on that day a round-table meeting of the US President George W. Bush and conservative party leaders of over 20 countries and regions.

When answering reporters' questions, Lien said the Bush administration's hope that the mainland can have talks with the governing party of Taiwan is also the opinion of the KMT. But what people see up to date is the passive resistance by Taiwan's governors. Even the policy target of "Taiwan independence", including the "constitution" plan and "rectification of name" cropped up again recently. These, as Lien said, are what they are worried about.

Contact achieved across the Straits is a well-meaning start, which should be further substantiated. It is a responsible attitude a governor should have. The leader in Taiwan should not take it as conflicts being appeased, playing the old game by consolidating the so-called "fundamentalist view of Taiwan independence fraction". Such a policy is irresponsible and unreasonable.

Lien said, the peaceful rise of the Chinese mainland is a precious opportunity for the Chinese people. Now Taiwan and the mainland should cooperate with each other. The benefit Taiwan received from the cooperation in the past is very obvious. If Taiwan can observe today's world with an open mind and a broad perspective, it can play a role bridging the mainland and the world.

Talking about KMT's mainland policy in the future, the KMT chairman emphasized that the two sides across the Taiwan Straits must strive for peace, reciprocity and mutual assistance as well as a win-win result.

Talking about the newly elected KMT chief, Lien said the new leader should have a new modus operandi and put forward his own orientation and views. A leader should be tolerant. Unity in the party is of the hope of all.

At a leaders' meeting of the International Democrat Union on July 18, Lien said the KMT supports the resumption of cross-Straits talks on the basis of the "1992 Consensus" and a framework of peace to be established in Taiwan. KMT supports close economic ties across the Straits and ultimately a common market to be realized for a win-win situation.

Lien said his meeting with Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was the first meeting between the two parties since 1945. It is an ice-breaking visit and a bridge-building visit. He also told the conference the five-point consensus reached between Hu and himself.

Regarding the prospects of the cross-Straits relations, Lien said the ice had been broken and the foundation for better cross-Straits relations had been laid. If the authority of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) can accept the "1992 Consensus", dialog can be resumed and peace, stability and prosperity in the Taiwan Straits can be guaranteed. Lien added that the international community should help persuade the DPP authority to avoid any provocation and to restart dialog with the mainland as soon as possible.

By People's Daily Online