(来源：www.EnglishCN.com)

Hu Jintao (R), general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung in Beijing, capital of China, on May 26, 2009.(Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with visiting Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung in Beijing Tuesday, promising to kick-start talks on cross-Straits economic co-op pact and to avoid "internal struggle" in foreign affairs.

The two agreed to further implement the common prospects for peaceful cross-Straits development, agreed by leaders of the two parties in 2005, said a statement issued after their meeting.

Both sides would maintain the political foundation that they oppose "Taiwan independence" and stick to the 1992 Consensus, the statement said. Both will "work to intensify mutual trust."

They would begin talks about the economic cooperation agreement as early as possible and promote exchanges between cultural and educational sectors, it said.

AVOIDING "INTERNAL STRUGGLE"

"Both sides held that they should avoid internal struggle in foreign affairs and work for the interests of all Chinese," the statement said.

Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) earlier this month showed the mainland's sincerity in pushing forward the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, said Hu at the meeting with Wu.

"It indicated Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits have the ability and wisdom to properly solve issues concerning the island's participation in activities of international institutions," he said.

"We hope it is conducive to promoting Taiwan compatriots' understanding on the mainland and the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations," he said.
ECONOMIC CO-OP TALKS EXPECTED

The mainland expects talks about a cross-Straits economic cooperation agreement to start in the latter half of this year, Hu said. "Both sides should push forward the preparation work for signing the agreement," Hu said.

In the near term, the mainland would continue focusing on economic cooperation, and the top priority was to jointly tackle the impact of the global downturn, he said.

"We have adopted some measures to pull through this crisis together with you [Taiwan people], as compatriots on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one family," he said. "We will continue doing this if the situation requires us to."

The mainland prefers an economic agreement that will benefit economic development on both sides, improve people's welfare and contribute to a cooperative mechanism that fits the cross-Straits reality, he said.

END HOSTILITY, REACH PEACE AGREEMENT

Promoting the formal end of cross-Straits hostility and reaching a peace agreement was the goal set forth by the common prospects for peaceful cross-Straits development, agreed by leaders of the two parties in 2005, Hu said.

The mainland proposed the two sides could conduct pragmatic discussion on issues concerning political relations and establishing a mechanism of mutual trust on cross-Straits military security under the circumstances that the country has not been reunified, he said.

Cross-Straits negotiations should be conducted step-by-step and with a proper pace by putting economic and simple issues first and gradually moving on to tackle political and difficult problems, he said.

"The two sides, however, should be prepared and create conditions for solving these problems," he said. The two sides could start with contacts in "initial form" and accumulate experience to gradually tackle difficult issues.

MUTUAL TRUST HIGHLIGHTED

Mutual trust based on opposing "Taiwan independence" and sticking to the 1992 Consensus since last May helped solve a series of complicated problems in cross-Straits relations, Hu said.

Consolidating and promoting political mutual trust was especially important for developing future ties, including gradually solving some difficult political issues, he said. "Sticking to the principle that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China is the key point."

Hu said the KMT and CPC shouldered historic responsibility in promoting peaceful development of cross-Straits ties.

Inter-party exchanges and dialogue, especially at high levels, would play an irreplaceable role in maintaining the momentum of development of cross-Straits relations, he said.

The CPC-KMT forum held since 2006 was a successful platform, Hu said. It should be continued and improved.