NANJING, March 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The visiting Kuomintang (KMT)delegation led by KMT Vice President Chiang Pin-kung paid tributes to the imposing Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, Wednesday morning.

    On March 12, 1925, the revolutionary forerunner died of illness in Beijing and, in 1929, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum was built in Nanjing at his behest. A grandiose ceremony was held to place his remains in the mausoleum. Since 1949, the Communist Party of China(CPC)-led Chinese government has paid top priority to the protection and maintenance of the mausoleum.

    At 8:40, the KMT delegation, the first in 56 years since 1949,arrived at the mausoleum.

    At 9:00 am, the delegation held a grand memorial service at the Memorial Hall, standing still. The delegation members presented a floral basket in front of the statue of the Chinese revolutionary forerunner, and read out a memorial message.

    The message read that KMT Vice President Chiang Pin-kung had been authorized to lead the delegation to visit Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, in commemoration of the 80th death anniversary of Dr.Sun Yat-sen, and pay tributes to him on behalf of KMT President Lien Chan and all KMT membership.

    The message recalls Dr. Sun's tremendous contributions in pioneering the anti-feudalism revolution, overthrowing the monarchy, founding the Republic, wiping out warlords, resisting foreign powers, and coordinating revolutionary feats brought about by different forces in the south and the north of China.

    After the reading of the message, the KMT visitors made three bows and observed a minute of silence in front of the statue. In an interview with Xinhua, Chiang said he was extremely moved to have paid tribute and respect to Dr. Sun Yat-sen on behalf of the KMT. People across the straits should learn from Dr. Sun Yat-sen so as to achieve a win-win situation, he said.

    During its stay in the park, named after Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the KMT delegation members were greeted by local residents and traveling tourists at the site, to whom visitors waved back in acknowledgment. Enditem