CPC, KMT to work to end cross-Straits hostility The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party said in Beijing Friday they had agreed to promote the peaceful and stable development of cross-Straits relations. Hu, Lien hold formal talks General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Hu Jintao and visiting Kuomintang (KMT) party chairman Lien Chan held a formal meeting Friday afternoon in Beijing. Reflect on WWII in Europe: Viewpoint The war 60 years ago is not far from us, the cultural gene that led to disasters still remains, as Julius Fucik put it: Kindhearted people, you should be vigilant! Still two "bottlenecks" for Sino-European ties When the original pattern is broken up, it takes time to set up a new pattern, in which it is possible to induce some political problem out from the trade problem. UPDATED: 11:25, April 30, 2005
General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Hu Jintao (R2) meets with visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party Chairman Lien Chan (L3) at the Great Hall of the People April 29, 2005, the first meeting between top leaders of the two parties in 60 years.

KMT Chairman, General Secretary of CPC Central Committee hold talks

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Hu Jintao (R2) meets with visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party Chairman Lien Chan (L3) at the Great Hall of the People April 29, 2005, the first meeting between top leaders of the two parties in 60 years.

Hu Jintao (R), general secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, meets with Lien Chan (L), chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party, and his KMT delegation in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, April 29, 2005.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party Chairman Lien Chan at the Great Hall of the People April 29, 2005, the first meeting between top leaders of the two parties in 60 years. (Xinhua photo)

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party Chairman Lien Chan at the Great Hall of the People April 29, 2005, the first meeting between top leaders of the two parties in 60 years. (Xinhua photo)

KMT chairman leaves Taiwan for mainland visit 2005-04-26 00:34:19 XinhuaEnglish

BEIJING, April 26(Xinhuanet)-- The Kuomintang(KMT) Party of China Chairman Lien Chan left Taipei at about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday morning to embark on a historic week-long visit to the mainland, according to sources in Taiwan.

The KMT delegation will first arrive at Nanjing in east China's Jiangsu Province, once capital of the KMT-ruled Chinese government before 1949, via Hong Kong.

Before leaving, Lien Chan made a brief speech at the airport, saying he wishes to increase understanding about the mainland and exchange views with mainland leaders on common concerns of both sides across the Taiwan Straits in this trip.

"Friends on both sides of the Straits should grasp this opportunity to seek mutual benefits and mutual assistance," said Lien.

Thousands of people gathered at Taipei's Taoyuan airport Tuesday morning to see the delegation off holding banners like"Bon Voyage, the Journey of Peace" amid"pro-independence" protests.

The delegation, at the invitation of the Communist Party of China(CPC) Central Committee and its General Secretary Hu Jintao,will visit the mainland cities of Nanjing, Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai from April 26 to May 3.

Leaders of the two parties will meet for the first time in 60 years.

The delegation is expected to arrive at Nanjing Tuesday afternoon.

Around 500 reporters had gathered in Nanjing Monday for the event, including nearly 100 reporters from Taiwan, some 200 mainland reporters and some from Hong Kong, Macao and foreign countries.

"It's an indication of the keen expectations for stability and development of cross-Straits relations of the people on both sidesof the Taiwan Straits," said Zhang Xianwen, director of a research center under the Nanjing University studying the history of the KMT rule in China.

Huang Jiashu, professor with the Beijing-based People's University, said although the KMT is not the ruling party in Taiwan, it is an important political force in Taiwan as it holds a considerable number of seats in the"legislature" of Taiwan and rules some counties and cities.

"Therefore, if the dialogue between the CPC and the KMT produces consensus in principle about concerns of the Taiwan compatriots, it will surely help to ease and promote cross-Straits relations," he said.

He urged the Taiwan authorities to approve contents of any possible consensus that would benefit the Taiwan compatriots and use executive power to push forward the implementation.

"If the Taiwan authorities controlled by the Democratic Progressive Party(DPP) could positively and pragmatically seek toease and develop cross-Straits relations, they will also win scores from the people on both sides of the Straits," said Huang. Enditem

BEIJING, Mar. 14 - China's parliament, the National People's Congress, adopted the Anti-Secession Law 2,896 to nil here Monday, setting a legal framework to prevent Taiwan from being seceded from China and promote peaceful national reunification.