Beijing to hold forum on cross-Strait peaceful development

BEIJING -- A Chinese mainland spokesman said Wednesday that a forum on the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations will be held in Beijing on November 2 to 3.

The forum will be jointly hosted by non-governmental organizations from the mainland and Taiwan, with support from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) Party, said An Fengshan, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

According to a statement released Wednesday, KMT leader Hung Hsiu-chu will attend the forum in Beijing and also pay a visit to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.

About 200 delegates from across the Strait will take part in the forum covering politics, economy, culture, society and youth, An said.

The CPC and KMT have co-held the Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum for 10 years, and it is an important platform for the two sides to boost peaceful cross-Strait relations, An said.

An stressed that the CPC and KMT will maintain communication on the common political basis of the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence."

"The two sides will continue to play an active role in maintaining peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and stability to boost the welfare of people from both sides," An said.