国内英语新闻:Top political advisor meets KMT leader

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Tuesday urged Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) Party and the Communist Party of China (CPC) to make continuous efforts to safeguard and boost the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties.

Yu, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remarks while meeting with a delegation led by KMT leader Hung Hsiu-chu at the Great Hall of the People.

Hung and her delegation arrived in Beijing on Monday and are scheduled to visit the mainland from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3.

Yu recognized the contribution by the KMT and the CPC in cross-Strait peaceful development, stressing that the two parties should always stand up for the interests of the Chinese nation; improve the well-being of people on both sides of the Strait; overcome difficulties and interferences; and deepen cooperation across the Strait.

The two parties should stick to the 1992 Consensus, which affirms the one-China principle and serves as the political foundation of peaceful cross-Strait relations, Yu said.

Only by recognizing the 1992 Consensus and acknowledging that both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one China can peaceful development of cross-Strait ties be maintained, Yu said.

Yu urged the KMT and the CPC to oppose forces supporting "Taiwan independence" and their activities, saying China will never tolerate "Taiwan independence."

Yu added that the two parties should work together to deepen integrated economic and social development and promote people-to-people exchanges across the Strait.

"The peaceful development of cross-Strait ties is conducive to safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as well as realizing mutual benefits for both sides," Yu said.

Echoing Yu, Hung said the two parties should deepen the political basis for the 1992 Consensus, and actively promote win-win cooperation across the Strait in various fields.