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Wang Daohan, 90, passes away in Shanghai
(Xinhua/AFP)
Updated: 2005-12-24 12:28
Taiwan's opposition party leaders express condolences
Leaders of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP),
the two main opposition parties in Taiwan, expressed their condolences over the
death of Wang Daohan on Saturday.
On hearing the news, KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou and PFP Chairman James Soong
also expressed their sympathy and solicitude to relatives of Wang, according to
reports from Taiwan.
James Soong (L), chairman of the People's
First Party in Taiwan, shakes hands with Wang Daohan (R), president of the
Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits, a major
non-governmental conduit for cross-Strait contacts, in Shanghai in this
May 8, 2005 file photo.[Reuters/file] | Ma said
that Wang had played an important role in the development of cross-Straits
relations. The KMT is considering sending representatives to the mainland to pay
their last respects to the remains of Wang.
Soong expressed the hope that there could come other heavy weight like Wang
to work for the settlement of problems between the two sides of the Taiwan
Straits.
KMT honorary chairman expresses condolences
Lien Chan, honorary chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party in Taiwan,
also expressed deep condolences over the death of Wang Daohan on Saturday.
Lien recalled his contacts with Wang this year, saying they had happy
talks in Shanghai in May when Lien, leading a KMT delegation, visited the
mainland.
Lien Chan (L)shakes
hands with Wang Daohan in Shanghai May 2, 2005.
[chinataiwan.org/file] | Lien said he had intended to pay a visit to Wang as he went to
the mainland again in October. But he was sorry to know that Wang was ill, and
he and his wife sent flowers to Wang to show their respects.
Both Wang
and Lien were conferred an honorary doctorate by the Chinese University of Hong
Kong in December. But Wang didn't go to Hong Kong to receive the title due to
his illness. Lien conveyed his greetings to Wang via Wang's daughter, Lien said.
Lie praised Wang for his great contribution to the development of
cross-Straits relations, saying that Wang is a model for successors in dealing
with the issues between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.
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