Mainland's top Taiwan affairs official meets with KMT vice-chairman-designate

TIANJIN -- Chinese mainland official Song Tao met with Hsiao Hsu-tsen, vice-chairman-designate of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, and his delegation in North China's Tianjin municipality on Tuesday.

Song, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the recent ratification of Commemoration Day of Taiwan's Restoration and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration to China were to inspire compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to safeguard their common homeland and work together for the nation's future.

He called for joint efforts to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism, strengthen exchange and interaction between the two parties, carry forward Chinese culture, and promote cross-Strait exchange and cooperation to advance national reunification.

Hsiao said that people in Taiwan are tired of political manipulation targeting the mainland, and do not wish to see any more confrontation between the two sides of the Strait.

He expressed his hope that the KMT and the CPC will -- on the common political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence" -- strengthen cross-Strait exchange and cooperation, promote cross-Strait peace and stability, bring benefits to people on both sides, and work together to achieve national rejuvenation.