Hu Jintao meets with KMT honorary chairman
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The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao met with Wu Poh-hsiung, honorary chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party, in Beijing Monday.
Wu was visiting the Chinese mainland to attend the sixth Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum, which closed Sunday in the southern city of Guangzhou.
Hu hailed the success of the forum as the two sides focused on such major issue as enhancing cooperation in emerging industries to sharpen the economic competitiveness across the Taiwan Strait, and reached many agreements.
In the joint proposal reached at the forum, both sides called for deeper cooperation in textiles, electronics, precision machinery, petrochemical industries and further cooperation in the emerging industries of information, biotechnology, new energy, energy saving and environmental protection and electric vehicle.
The forum was held almost two weeks after the signing of the historic Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) between the two sides on June 30.
Hu said the agreement was an important achievement in the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait and a sign that economic and trade ties have entered a new stage.
Hu said the ECFA was in line with interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation.
The signing of the pact showed that on the common political basis of opposing "Taiwan Independence" and upholding the 1992 Consensus, the two sides could "constantly push forward cross-Strait relations by positive interactions and equal negotiations, Hu said.
He expressed his hope that the agreement could take effect as soon as possible, so that it could bring substantial benefits to people on both sides.
The ECFA, which is aimed at establishing a systematic mechanism for enhancing cross-Strait economic cooperation, will formally take effect a day after both sides complete due procedures and notify each other.
"The signing of the ECFA is the right path," Wu Poh-hsiung said, adding that the island would likely complete legal procedures for the pact in August.
Greeting Hu on behalf of KMT chairman Ma Ying-jeou, Wu said high-level communication between the two parties was essential for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.
Wu said that chairman Ma hoped the two sides could continue to promote cross-Strait relations by facing realities, nurturing mutual trust and seeking common ground while reserving differences.
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