General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Hu Jintao met with Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday afternoon.

It is the first meeting between chiefs of the two parties since positive changes took place in Taiwan.

Hu shook hands with Wu, and they posed for a group photo with the other officials of the two parties.

Hu expressed warm welcome to Wu and other members of the KMT visiting group, calling the visit a major event for relations between the CPC and the KMT and relations between the mainland and Taiwan.

He expressed hope that on the basis of previous exchanges and dialogues, the two parties would further exchange their views on promoting the improvement and development of relations between the mainland and Taiwan and facing the future together, jointly work for peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait.

Hu thanked Taiwan compatriots for their concern and generous donations and assistance to relief efforts in the wake of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan Province.

He mentioned it was "really touching" that on the afternoon of May 12, shortly after the earthquake struck, the Central Committee of the KMT sent a telegram of sympathy.

Hu also expressed sympathy to the families of two Taiwan tourists who died during the earthquake, noting over 2,890 Taiwan tourists were evacuated out of the affected areas and returned to Taiwan smoothly.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2008)