The communiqué of the talks between Hu Jintao, general secretary
of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and James
Soong, chairman of the People First Party, contains many new
elements that benefit Taiwan compatriots, said a CPC Taiwan Work
Office spokesman Thursday.
"The talk between General Secretary Hu Jintao and Chairman James
Soong is the first formal talk between top leaders of the two
parties. It is of important historical and realistic significance
in beefing up exchanges between the two parties and boosting
development of cross-Straits relations," said the spokesman.
He said the communiqué reflected the major results of the talk.
It indicates both sides call for promoting early resumption of
cross-Straits negotiations on an equal footing and on the basis of
the "1992 Consensus", resolutely opposing "Taiwan independence" and
jointly working for peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits. It
serves to end the state of hostility and the establishment of a
peace framework across the Straits.
The spokesman said according to the communiqué, the two parties
shared the idea that "unity and cooperation across the Straits
benefit both sides, separation harms both and exchanges lead to a
win-win situation." On this common basis, they have reached
nine-point consensus on boosting cross-Straits economic and trade
exchanges and promoting the establishment of a stable mechanism for
cross-Straits economic and trade cooperation.
He said the nine points of consensus contain many new elements.
Among them, the mainland has promised to further simplify exit and
entry procedures of Taiwan compatriots, apply the same rates of
charges and fees on Taiwan students studying on the mainland as
those on mainland students, and applying flexible employment
policies on Taiwan compatriots seeking jobs on the mainland.
He said other policies announced by Director of the CPC Central
Committee's Taiwan Work Office Chen Yunlin on May 3, including
expanding the market access of Taiwan fruits on the mainland in the
near future and exempting tariffs on 10-plus of them, are also
embodied in the communiqué.
The two parties have agreed to promote the establishment of a
cross-Straits non-governmental forum of elites, which will also
serve as a platform for exchanges between the parties.
The spokesman said the talks achieved major results because the
two parties share common principles, which are adhering to the
one-China principle and the "1992 Consensus", resolutely opposing
"Taiwan independence" and working for peace and stability across
the Taiwan Straits.
He said improvement and development of cross-Straits relations
depends on a peaceful and stable environment. "Taiwan independence"
secessionist stances and activities harm the feelings of people on
both sides of the Straits, obstruct the development of normal and
mutually beneficial cooperative relations between the two sides and
moreover, undermine security and stability in the Taiwan Straits
and the Asia-Pacific Region.
He said achievements in the talk are all conducive to promoting,
improving and developing cross-Straits relations and safeguarding
the fundamental interests of compatriots of both sides, especially
the Taiwan compatriots.
"I believe compatriots of both sides will approve and support
efforts by the two parties to push for and implement various
measures mentioned in the communiqué," said the spokesman.
(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2005)