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.

Hu said the meeting is a "historic meeting" as it is the first meeting between top leaders of the two parties in 60 years.

He praised Lien and the KMT Central Committee for their bravery and determination in making this mainland visit, saying it is an important visit in cross-Straits relations.

"Cross-straits relations is in a crucial period," said Hu. "Our meeting today and candid exchange of views on the major issues in cross-Straits and inter-party relations is an important sign of our efforts to face up to the reality and create a better future."

Hu said the two parties have the political basis and share common principles to conduct exchanges in the new period, namely acceptance of the "1992 Consensus," opposing "Taiwan independence", jointly working to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, promoting development of cross-Straits relations and working for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

"These exchanges conform with the aspirations of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and the trend of development in China and the world in general," Hu said.

In the close door meeting in the Fujian Hall of the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, Hu first asked Lien to air his opinions on the development of cross-Straits relations and inter-party exchanges.

Lien said Friday's meeting constitutes an "opportunity" for the two parties to advance peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

"The KMT proposes conducting meaningful communication under the framework of the '1992 Consensus' and creating a macro-environment favorable for peaceful development of cross-Straits relations to facilitate the signing of a peace accord between the two sides," said Lien.

"I hope cross-Straits relations will go out of the current vicious cycle of antagonism and enter a sound cycle of cooperation," said Lien.

Lien said the two sides are complementary in market, professional talent, technology and capital. He called for strengthening cross-Straits cooperation in these fields to achieve the comprehensive results of "one plus one surpasses two."

Lien said current cross-Straits relations may focus on economic and trade cooperation and build an economic cooperative mechanism to gradually develop a mutually reliant, mutually beneficial and mutually complementary relationship.

He suggested first establishing a non-governmental economic cooperation forum, where important financial and economic figures of the two sides could meet to discuss major topics. The forum would then promote the implementation of the results.

Lien also suggested creating a platform for cross-Straits inter-party communication. "In this way, views on major cross-Straits issues could be exchanged regularly to enhance mutual understanding and promoting the improvement and development of cross-Straits relations," said Lien.

Hu said that China has suffered enormous hardships in the modern times but the Chinese people have braved all difficulties and bitterness and sought national independence, richness, strength, and people's happiness. To realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has been the long-cherished wish of the whole Chinese people and those with lofty ideas.

Currently, the mainland has entered into a development stage to build up an overall prosperous society and accelerate the pace of modernization, Hu said, adding that the achievements made by the mainland also comprise important contribution by Taiwan compatriots.

After more than 20 years of development, the cross-Straits economic exchanges and cooperation have reached a certain scale and level, which has created historic opportunities for the common development across the Straits, said Hu.

Hu called for compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to take the opportunities and join hands to open up a new future and achieve common prosperity for the two sides and realizing "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in the true sense."

Hu said secessionist activities by the "Taiwan independence" forces in recent years have seriously affected peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, gravely jeopardized the development of cross-Straits relations and national reunification and caused ideological confusions and political turbulence in Taiwan.

These activities have aroused attention, he said.

"If they are not checked resolutely, it will be hard to eradicate the root of the tension that endangers cross-Straits peace, the historic opportunity for the two sides to jointly seek development and prosperity will be bereft, and the happiness and benefits of the Taiwan compatriots will be ruined," Hu said.

"Only if we resolutely check 'Taiwan independence' can we guarantee the peaceful and steady development of cross-Straits relations, maintain a peaceful environment for cross-Straits social and economic development, safeguard the fundamental interests of people on both sides of the Straits and protect the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation," said Hu.

Hu said cross-Straits relations are in a critical period of development and the peaceful and steady development of cross-Straits relations benefits residents in Taiwan and the mainland as well as the long-term development of the Chinese nation.

"The CPC and KMT should make concrete efforts in this regard," he said.

Hu made a four-point proposition on the development of cross-Straits relations.

The first point is to build political trust and mutual respect and to seek common ground while reserving differences.

"The establishment of mutual trust politically is crucial in achieving peaceful and steady development in cross-Straits relations," Hu said. "It was on this basis that the two sides achieved mutual understanding and reached the '1992 Consensus' more than a decade ago."

The "1992 Consensus," which confirms the common stand of the two sides on their adherence to the one China principle and shelves their political differences, has embodied political wisdom and attended to the interests of all parties involved, he said. "This is an important achievement we have to maintain and cherish."

Denial of the one China principle by certain people in Taiwan and repeated sabotages on the basis of mutual trust are the cause for the twists and turns in the development of cross-Straits relations, Hu said.

Hu said the CPC has proceeded from the fundamental interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and the entire Chinese nation in raising its claim for peaceful reunification.

Hu said the Taiwan authorities have to put to an end the "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities and endorse the "1992 Consensus." This is the key to thawing cross-Straits stalemate and rebuild trust, he said.

"As long as the two sides of the Straits resume dialogue and negotiation on the basis of the '1992 Consensus,' we're sure to open up a new chapter in the peaceful, steady development of cross-Straits relations," he said.

The second point of the proposition is to enhance economic exchanges and cooperation, achieve mutual benefits and seek common development, Hu said.

In today's world, Hu said international competition is intensifying with economic globalization and scientific and technological advancement. "Under such circumstances, we have to advance; otherwise we'll fall behind," said Hu.

To promote all-round economic exchanges and cooperation and to achieve the "three direct links" between the two sides of the Straits are in line with the general trend and are urgent tasks of the time, he said. "Cooperation is mutual beneficial and direct links are win-win," Hu said.

The two sides should support each other, enhance exchanges, expand cooperation, complement each other and open up a new chapter in cross-Straits economic cooperation in order to take the opportunity for development and tackle challenges, according to Hu.

"We'll work to facilitate further cross-Straits exchanges in economy, science, technology, education, culture, sports and tourism sectors," he said. "Once cross-Straits talks are resumed, we'll be willing to arrange consultations on the earlier establishment of closer economic and trade cooperation to boost common development and prosperity."

The third point is to begin dialogues and consultations on equal basis. This is an important approach for both sides to improve understanding, enhance mutual trust, expand consensus and resolve problems, Hu noted.

It will contribute to the stable development of peace across the Taiwan Straits if the two sides conduct extensive exchanges of views on issues of common concern and respective concern on the basis of mutual respect and seeking common ground while reserving differences, said Hu.

The fourth point of the proposition is to encourage exchanges between people of the two sides which will increase understanding and affinity, Hu said.

Hu said that the mainland is ready to talk on any issues that benefits the interests of people across the Straits and promote the growth of cross-Straits relations.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2005)