James Soong Chu-yu yesterday marked the beginning of his four-day visit to Beijing with an appeal for a joint effort to break the cross-strait stalemate for the sake of future prosperity.
'The Chinese people on the two sides of the strait have to pool their wisdom to break the deadlock and recreate a vision for the growth and prosperity of the Chinese nation,' said Mr Soong, chairman of Taiwan's opposition People First Party.
'We are devoting our efforts to the prosperity, wealth and strength of the Chinese nation in the next generation.'
Mr Soong and his 50-member delegation were greeted at Beijing airport in a ceremony matching that for Kuomintang chairman Lien Chan two weeks ago.
'I watched on television a speech by Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Hu Jintao that we must take history as a mirror,' he said. 'We understand deeply that war brings suffering to the people. We must use peaceful means to resolve our cross-strait problems.'
Mr Soong thanked Mr Hu for breaking a 50-year political taboo by inviting the PFP for direct party-to-party dialogue.
