CPC, KMT call for trust, exchanges

The Communist Party of China (CPC) and Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) both called for the promotion of greater cross-Straits trust and understanding as Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou took office as chairman of the KMT over the weekend.

Ma took over the reins from outgoing party chief Wu Poh-hsiung on Saturday at the 18th plenary congress of the KMT and pledged to deepen cooperation and promote mutual trust with the CPC during his inaugural address.

The CPC Central Committee on Saturday congratulated the KMT on its 18th plenary session, and hoped the two parties would work towards increasing mutual trust and understanding.

In turn, the KMT Central Committee asserted it would work with the CPC to improve the welfare of people on both sides of the Straits.

During his inaugural address, Ma said the five-point "common wish for peaceful cross-Straits development" outlined by CPC Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao and former KMT chairman Lien Chan has had a positive impact on cross-Straits relations.

The KMT-CPC dialogues have played an important role and should be cherished, he said. The cross-Straits economic, trade and culture forum, co-sponsored by the KMT and the CPC, would continue to be held, he affirmed.

Ma also appointed Lien and Wu as KMT honorary chairmen at the Congress. The two will assist Ma on cross-Straits affairs and external exchanges, he said.

Hu on Saturday congratulated Lien and Wu on their appointments.

The two responded with commitments to peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

Lien said in a statement that ever since the two sides had resumed systematic talks based on the 1992 Consensus, peace and stability across the Straits have been greatly enhanced and people's welfare has improved.

"We should work even harder to consolidate the five-point common aspirations and prospects," Lien said.

Wu, who was KMT chairman for two years before he handed over the chairman's seal to Ma, also noted that the two parties should work together for peace and development with "sincerity and goodwill".

At the Congress, the KMT again included in its political guidelines the "common aspirations and prospects for peace and development across the Taiwan Straits", reached between the CPC and KMT in 2005.

Under the guidelines, the KMT committed to normalizing cross-Straits economic relations and trade, and establishing an economic cooperation mechanism.

It will also promote cultural exchanges and judicial cooperation, as well as work together with the mainland on environment protection and climate change, the guidelines said.

Wu Yongping, deputy director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at Tsinghua University, said this was a positive signal by the KMT to further develop cross-Straits relations, which was helpful for continuing dialogues between the CPC and the KMT.

"Through the Congress we can be sure that the KMT would stick to its stance on easing cross-Straits relations, promoting exchanges with the CPC and building on the platform between the two parties," said Zhu Weidong, deputy director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Source: China Daily-Xinhua