Lien Chan, honorary chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party in Taiwan, expressed deep condolence over the death of Wang Daohan on Saturday.

Wang, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, died of illness in Shanghai Saturday morning at the age of 90.

Lien recalled his contacts with Wang this year, saying they had happy talks in Shanghai in May when Lien, leading a KMT delegation, visited the mainland.

Lien said he had intended to pay a visit to Wang as he went to the mainland again in October. But he was sorry to know that Wang was ill, and he and his wife sent flowers to Wang to show their respects.

Both Wang and Lien were conferred an honorary doctorate by the Chinese University of Hong Kong in December. But Wang didn't go to Hong Kong to receive the title due to his illness. Lien conveyed his greetings to Wang via Wang's daughter, Lien said.

Lie praised Wang for his great contribution to the development of cross-Straits relations, saying that Wang is a model for successors in dealing with the issues between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.

Source: Xinhua