Lien Chan calls for joint efforts to promote cross-Strait peace, opening-up

Both the mainland and Taiwan should reinforce efforts to promote peace and opening-up across the Taiwan Strait, visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party Honorary Chairman Lien Chan said Sunday in Beijing.

Both sides should endeavor toward unity, peace and opening-up, as "the cross-strait relations are now in a seesaw struggle between peace and opening-up on one side and conflicts and closure on the other," said Lien Chan.

Lien made the remarks during his second meeting in a year with Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in the Great Hall of People in downtown Beijing.

Lien arrived Thursday heading a KMT delegation to attend a two-day cross-Strait economic and trade forum, which closed on Saturday.

Hu and Lien met for the first time in Beijing in April last year when Lien, then chairman of the Taiwan-based KMT party, had an "ice-breaking" journey to the mainland.

Noting that peace is the basis of prosperity, development and survival, Lien expressed his hopes that both sides should continue their efforts to tackle more rigorous challenges in all aspects, including the mechanisms of peace and security and participation in the world arena.

The KMT honorary chairman pointed out that the mainland and Taiwan share complementary economic conditions and both sides cherish the more and more intimate economic ties very much.

Lien said the 15 policies announced by the mainland to promote cross-Strait economic and trade relations created new opportunities for a brighter prospect.

"The key problem is how to enable Taiwan people to enjoy benefits of booming economic growth in face of a crisis of 'marginalization' due to several years of self-closure in the island," Lien stressed.

Lien called on compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to overcome challenges and continue to pursue peace, so as to create cross-Strait economic prosperity.

Hu echoed Lien's remarks by saying that peace and development should be the theme of cross-Strait relations, and the common goal of people in both the mainland and Taiwan.

"We should maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, promote cross-Strait exchange and cooperation, and make our best to work for the happiness of people on both sides of the Strait," Hu said.

Source: Xinhua