Top political advisor meets Taiwan delegates to CPC, KMT think tank forum

BEIJING -- Top political advisor Wang Huning on Wednesday met with the Taiwan delegation attending the think tank forum co-hosted on Tuesday by research institutes affiliated with the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party.

Extending congratulations on the success of the forum, Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that the mainland will strengthen exchanges with Taiwan's political parties, including the KMT, as well as with groups and people from all sectors of Taiwan.

Wang, also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said that the mainland will unite Taiwan compatriots to advance exchanges and cooperation, and deepen integrated development across the Taiwan Strait.

Adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence" is the common political foundation of exchanges between the CPC and the KMT, and the fundamental precondition for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, which should not waver at any time, he stressed.

He urged joint efforts to firmly grasp the destiny of the Chinese nation and resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism and interference by external forces, and to further expand the space for exchanges and cooperation for compatriots on both sides of the Strait.

"All Taiwan compatriots and enterprises are welcome to take part in the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan," Wang said, urging the CPC and the KMT to take the lead in doing anything that benefits compatriots on both sides of the Strait and cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation.

Hsiao Hsu-tsen, vice-chairman of the KMT who led the Taiwan delegation, said he hopes that Chinese people on both sides of the Strait will replace confrontation with exchanges and conflict with consultation, and work together for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The Tuesday forum was attended by over 100 participants from both sides of the Strait, including think tank members of the CPC and the KMT, as well as representatives and experts from various fields such as tourism, industry, science and technology, healthcare, and environmental protection.