Jia Qinglin (L), member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Chairman of Chinese Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang party Wu Poh-hsiung in Shanghai, east China, on Dec. 19, 2008. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Photo Gallery>>>

    SHANGHAI, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin met with visiting Kuomintang (KMT) chairman Wu Poh-hsiung and honorary chairman Lien Chan respectively here Friday.

    Wu and Lien were here to attend the 4th Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum, scheduled for December 20 to 21.

    The relations across the Taiwan Strait has realized positive interactions with efforts by both sides, by the Communist Party of China (CPC) and KMT, under a principle of building mutual trust, laying aside dispute, seeking consensus and shelving difference, and creating a win-win situation, said Jia.

    "We truly hope compatriots from the two sides will join hands and the CPC and KMT will work together to create a new stage of peaceful development across the Strait."

    When the international financial crisis affected both sides of the Strait, the mainland and Taiwan should cooperate to face it and find a way out, he said. "We could feel the difficulties Taiwan people are facing now."

Jia Qinglin (R), member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Chairman of Chinese Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang party Wu Poh-hsiung in Shanghai, east China, on Dec. 19, 2008. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Photo Gallery>>>

    The Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum will be a favorable platform of dialogue for the two sides, he added.

    "We are very pleased to see that the cross-Strait dialogue was resumed after a ten-year standstill and direct links of transport, trade and mail services were realized. These achievements are hard won," Wu said.

    The meeting between CPC Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao and then KMT Chairman Lien was of far reaching significance, he said.

    "Once we decided to head for a peaceful development, we will move on instead of backing up," he said. "KMT has the courage to overcome difficulties and persistently push forward the peaceful development of the cross-Strait relations."

Jia Qinglin (R), member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Lien Chan, honorary chairman of Chinese Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang party, in Shanghai, east China, on Dec. 19, 2008. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Photo Gallery>>>

    Lien said he was excited to see the new situation of the cross-Strait relations this year.

    The previous three Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forums created a favorable and close environment of dialogue, he said. "At the coming forum, representatives of various walks of life from both sides shall exchange ideas and reach common understanding. This is what people on the both sides expect."

Taiwan party representatives arrive in Shanghai for cross-Strait forum 

    SHANGHAI, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Wu Poh-hsiung, Chairman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang party, along with Honorary Chairman Lien Chan arrived in Shanghai Friday to attend a two-day cross-Straits economic and cultural forum.

    Wu and Lien were received by Wang Yi, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. Full story

Chinese mainland, Taiwan start direct transport services 

    BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland and Taiwan started direct air, sea transport and postal services on Monday morning, the latest step to further improve the once strained ties.

    The move marks an end to the practice that air and sea transport as well as mail between the mainland and Taiwan had to go through a third place. Full story

Passengers from southeast China's Taiwan gesture before boarding the plane at the airport in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 15, 2008. A Shenzhen Airlines flight took off from the Shenzhen Airport for Taiwan at 7:20 Beijing Time (2320 GMT Dec. 14), the first when the Chinese mainland and Taiwan started direct air and sea transport and postal services Monday morning. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Mainland-bound direct flight takes off from Taipei

     TAIPEI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- A passenger plane of Taiwan-based TransAsia Airways took off from Taipei Songshan Airport for Shanghai at 8:06 a.m. on Monday, starting the direct air transport from Taiwan to the Chinese mainland.  Full story

Working staff wave to the plane leaving for southeast China's Taiwan, at the airport in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 15, 2008. The Shenzhen Airlines flight took off from the Shenzhen Airport for Taiwan at 7:20 Beijing Time (2320 GMT Dec. 14), the first when the Chinese mainland and Taiwan started direct air and sea transport and postal services Monday morning. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

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