OPINION> Commentary
Gains of engagement
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-26 07:16

A breakthrough in the relations between the mainland and Taiwan is expected, with positive changes in the island and frequent meetings between heads of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Kuomintang party (KMT).

KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung kicks off his mainland trip today and will meet President Hu Jintao on Wednesday. They are scheduled to deliberate on the resumption of dialogue on the basis of the "1992 consensus." Under the guideline each side could interpret the term "One China" in its own way.

The talks between the two parties will make more sense since the KMT trounced the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party in March.

On Thursday Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, said the mainland will strengthen exchanges with parties, groups and individuals in Taiwan to promote cross-Straits peace. The mainland and Taiwan face "a precious and important opportunity".

The CPC and the KMT are having a lot in common for the future of the cross-Straits relations.

In his inaugural address, Ma Ying-jeou referred to three statements by President Hu on the cross-Straits relations - "building mutual trust, shelving controversies, finding commonalities despite differences, and creating together a win-win situation".

Ma said Hu's "views are very much in line with our own" and promised to negotiate on the basis of the "1992 consensus."

Taiwan announced that it will authorize the Straits Exchange Foundation today to engage "very quickly, hopefully immediately" with its mainland counterpart, the Associations for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits.

All these are a sign of better relations between the mainland and Taiwan.

Wu, Taiwan's first ever "ruling party" chief visiting the mainland, is coming to meet President Hu to pave the way for the resumption of the direct talks between the two sides and opening of weekend charter flights across the Straits.

As both the mainland and Taiwan have vowed to mend their ties, there is much hope of fewer tensions across the narrow straits in the future.

The fact that the CPC and the KMT have been dealing with the cross-Straits relations in a practical manner should lay a solid basis for improving the relationship between the mainland and Taiwan.

Since March a series of key Taiwanese figures have visited the mainland or made plans to do so. Those who made their trips included KMT honorary chairman Lien Chan and Taiwan's "vice president" Vincent Siew. Frequent contacts between the two sides help build trust.

(China Daily 05/26/2008 page5)