HONG KONG, May 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Quite a number of Hong Kong newspapers and media agencies on Friday positively appraised the historic handshake between Hu Jintao and James CY Soong, top leaders of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and People First People.

    The Chinese language Wen Wei Po published an editorial titled "Hu-Soong Consensus Shows Great Foresight, 'Two Sides, One China' Exhibits Much Rooms."

    The editorial says Hu and Soong held a historic meeting on Thursday and reached a six-point consensus in the communique of their talks. This is another bridge of mutual trust and communication built by the two parties after the meeting of top leaders of the CPC and the Kuomintang (KMT) party earlier this month.

    The act is catering to the interests of people across the Straits and will play a positive role in advancing full-fledged development of cross-Straits relations, it says.

    The editorial expresses the belief that the meeting is not onlyin the interest of the whole Chinese nation, but in the interest of the Asia-Pacific region and the whole world.

    The communique of their talks indicated that Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits have the capability and wisdom to resolve the past misunderstandings and problems, to build a bridgeof mutual trust and communication, and to enter into a new era of cross-Straits relations.

    Hong Kong Commercial Daily carried an editorial titled "Sticking to One China, Having Bright Future." It says the past process of the development of cross-Straits relations indicated that so long as the one-China principle and stand to oppose "Taiwan independence" prevail, the situation across the Straits will be stable and cross-Straits relations will develop smoothly and have a bright future.

    While the one-China principle is not recognized, the tension incross-Straits relations will not be eased, which will damage the interests of people across the Taiwan Straits.

    In an editorial titled "Two Sides, One China, Jointly Creating Win-win Situation," the Chinese language Ta Kung Pao says six-point consensus follows the historical trend, and the promotion ofdevelopment and prosperity is the requirement of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

    Qiu Zhenhai, commentator from the Phoenix Television, said in an interview with Xinhua Friday that the historic Hu-Soong handshake and meeting indicated the utmost sincerity and goodwill. The six-point consensus comprises not only the one-China principle, but also the pressing requirement for direct mail service, trade, air and shipping services across the Taiwan Straits.

    He described the communique as concrete, practical and fruitful.

    Qiu said the mainland visits by KMT Chairman Lien Chan and Soong are all pioneering tours that will play very positive roles in improving and advancing cross-Straits relations and have a far-reaching impact in Taiwan. Enditem