The achievements made at the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum are more than expected, said Chinese Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan here Sunday.

Lien was referring to the beneficial policies the Chinese mainland announced at the two-day forum that closed on Saturday.

Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, announced a package of 15 beneficial policies at the forum, which covers a variety of aspects.

"These policies, along with the consensus reached at the forum, are more than what we expected," Lien said at a press conference.

The Taiwan authorities had predicted the forum could at most achieve some common understanding to open the passenger and freight transport services, allow mainland tourists to visit Taiwan and streamline the procedures for Taiwan agricultural products to "land" at the mainland, Lien said.

He criticized the Taiwan authorities for their negative attitude toward exchanges between the two sides of the Straits, saying that though non-governmental exchanges have been active over the past few years, there is still a long way to go for improvements in cross-Straits relations.

Lien said the KMT has never changed its stance on the consensus that there is only one China in the world with each side of the Taiwan Straits having its own wording for it.

KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou insisted on the same policy during his recent visit to the United States, Lien noted.

Lien disclosed that before coming to the mainland last April, he also informed Chen Shui-bian on KMT's one-China policy.

Good and positive developments have taken place in cross-Straits relations since April last year, said Lien, recalling his "ice-breaking" visit to the mainland and first-ever meeting with Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

In a press communique issued after their meeting in late April last year, both parties decided to work jointly in five aspects, including promoting an earlier resumption of cross-Straits talks on the basis of the "1992 consensus," the formal end of the state of hostility across the Taiwan Straits, all-round economic cooperation and trade across the Straits, the discussion of Taiwan's participation in international activities after cross-Straits talks are resumed and the establishment of a platform for regular exchanges between the two parties.

As for the regularization of charter flights across the Straits, Lien said it needs further consultation which he hopes could be conducted and completed as soon as possible.

Source: Xinhua