The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and
General Secretary Hu Jintao
have formally invited the chairman of Taiwan's People First Party
(PFP) to head a delegation to the mainland, a senior official
announced on Monday.
"We believe that James Soong's visit would help promote exchange
and contribute to the relaxation and stability of cross-Straits
relations," said Chen Yunlin, director of the committee's Taiwan
Work Office.
Chen, who also heads the Taiwan Affairs Office of the
State Council, China's cabinet, told Xinhua News Agency that he
hoped the PFP would send personnel to the mainland as soon as
possible to consult over arrangements for a visit from Soong.
Lien Chan, chairman of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party, is
expected to visit the mainland soon, and the PFP has expressed
Soong's desire to head a delegation before May 14.
On March 31, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of
the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the
mainland would welcome the chairmen of political parties in Taiwan
that accept the "1992 consensus," oppose secession and advocate the
growth of cross-Straits relations.
Jia was speaking at a meeting in Beijing during the tour of the
first KMT delegation since 1949, headed by PK Chiang, the party's
vice-chairman.
Chen gave his support to the possibility of a mainland trip by
Soong when interviewed by TVBS, a Taiwan-based television station,
on April 1.
(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2005)