The leaders of Taiwan’s ruling party – the Kuomintang (KMT) -- and the Communist Party of China (CPC) have met for the first time in six years, in Beijing.
During Monday’s meeting, KMT Chairman Eric Chu called on CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping to deepen cross-strait exchanges based on the 1992 Consensus.
The consensus refers to a tacit agreement that the two sides reached in 1992. Under that agreement, there is only one China, although each side may have its own interpretation of what that means.
Chu said the 1992 Consensus, which was included in the KMT’s party platform after 2005, is of vital importance.
“We hope to see more cooperation in the future, especially for Taiwan’s younger generation," said Chu. "They are creative and have a lot of ideas. Through cross-strait exchanges, they will be able to work with [each other]. We also hope to deepen cross-strait exchanges based on the 1992 Consensus. In the future, [we hope] that Taiwan will have more space in the global arena and more opportunities to participate in international organizations and activities.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping also called for strengthening cooperation, saying that cross-strait ties are at a “new crucial” point.
Xi said that over the past decade, cross-strait ties have moved from conflicts and antagonism to peaceful development and friendly interaction. Xi also said that the resumption of cross-strait talks and two-way exchanges have benefited people across the Taiwan Strait and have won recognition from the international community.