Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said on Sunday
that adhering to the "1992 consensus" is an essential foundation
for peace and development across the Taiwan Straits.?
The "1992 consensus" refers to the common belief that both the
mainland and Taiwan belong to the one China.?
At a meeting with Honorary Chairman Lien Chan of the
Taiwan-based Kuomintang (KMT) party, Hu said that though
China?is not yet reunified the fact that both the mainland and
Taiwan belong to one China has not changed and the bonds of flesh
and blood between compatriots on both sides of the straits remain
the same.
He recalled that 14 years ago it was based on the
above-mentioned common understanding and the wish to seek common
ground while setting differences aside had led to the "1992
consensus". This in turn resulted in the "Wang-Koo Talks" of
1993.?
The "Wang-Koo Talks" was a landmark meeting in 1993 between Wang
Daohan, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations
Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Koo Chen-fu, chairman of the
Taiwan-based Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF), in Singapore in
April 1993. It was the first ever high-level, non-governmental
talks across the Taiwan Straits.?
"It was based on such a consensus that the CPC and KMT published
a series of measures last year for peace across the Straits for the
benefit of the people on both sides," Hu said.?
He said the reason that cross-Straits relations encountered
setbacks in recent years was that some people denied the "1992
consensus" and attempted to destroy the status quo that both the
mainland and Taiwan belong to one China.?
Facts have shown that only by adhering to the "1992 consensus"
could both sides of the Straits secure peace, development and
common prosperity. Only the rejection of "Taiwan independence"
could remove the major threat to the peaceful development of
cross-Straits relations, Hu added.
In a further comment on boosting cross-Straits relations Hu
said, "It's the ultimate goal to seek benefits for the people
across the Taiwan Straits when we are working for peaceful
development in cross-Strait relations."
A leader and a political party should always put the interests
of people first, he said.
He pointed out that on several occasions he had said the
mainland would take seriously everything that concerns the
interests of the Taiwan compatriots and seriously follow through on
all the commitments made to them.
"I'd like to take the opportunity to repeat solemnly that we
will faithfully carry out all the commitments we have made to the
Taiwan compatriots," he said.
Hu added that a mutually complementary and beneficial
relationship was the effective way for realizing peaceful
development across the Straits.?
The successful, non-governmental cooperation across the Straits
over the past 20 years had resulted in a mutually complementary and
beneficial situation in general, he noted. Under such circumstances
the interests of the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan
Straits had been closely related.
Deepening cross-Straits trade and economic cooperation was a
major issue that concerned the future of development and the
benefits for people on both sides, he said.
Referring to the so-called "marginalization" of Taiwan, Hu said,
the key was that some people in Taiwan should not "marginalize
themselves."
"We will take active measures to realize the 'three direct
links' (in mail, transport and trade) at an early date, strengthen
cross-Straits agricultural cooperation and educational exchanges,
create conditions for mainland residents to travel in Taiwan as
early as possible and provide more job opportunities for our Taiwan
compatriots."
Hu added that consultation was the only way to achieve peaceful
development of cross-Straits relations. "We maintain that both
sides of the Taiwan Straits should be far-sighted and constructive
in their dialog and negotiations to resolve their disputes and
problems," he said.
Hu recalled the consensus he reached with Lien in their first
meeting last year, and said, "We (the CPC and KMT) should make
joint efforts to re-open consultation across the Straits on the
basis of the '1992 consensus' as soon as possible.
"As long as we begin consultations we can discuss all issues
that our Taiwan compatriots care about in a practical manner so as
to open up ways for peaceful development across the Straits," Hu
said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2006)
