Communist Party of China (CPC) chief Hu Jintao yesterday underlined the importance of the "1992 consensus" to maintaining cross-Straits peace while calling for a fight against "Taiwan independence."

President Hu Jintao(R) meets with former chairman of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Lien Chan at the Great Hall of People in Beijing on Sunday. [Xinhua]

During his meeting with Lien Chan, honorary chairman of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT), Hu described the consensus as the vital foundation for achieving cross-Straits peace and development.

The consensus refers to a 1992 informal agreement under which Beijing and Taipei acknowledge that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China with each side having different interpretations of its political meaning.

"In recent years, there have been continued ups and downs in cross-Straits relations. The main reason is that some people have ignored the will of the people to deny the '1992 consensus'," said Hu, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

"Facts have shown that only by adhering to the '1992 consensus' can both sides of the Straits realize peace, development and common prosperity."

The top leader added that both sides of the Straits can "resume talks on an equal footing as soon as possible" on the basis of the consensus.

Hu refrained from naming Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian of the ruling pro-"independence" Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) but his overtures were apparently in response to Chen's latest rejection of the consensus.

While meeting KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou in Taipei on April 3, Chen said the "1992 consensus" does not exist at all and should not be considered the basis for resuming cross-Straits talks.

Since taking power in May 2000, Chen and the DPP have stepped up their push for formal "independence" of the island, fuelling tensions across the Straits.

"Only by opposing and curbing 'Taiwan independence' can we remove the biggest threat to the development of peaceful and stable cross-Straits relations," said Hu in his one-hour meeting with Lien.

Lien, also former KMT chairman, told a press conference yesterday afternoon that his party has an unambiguous cross-Straits policy based on the "1992 consensus" and blamed the current political stalemate in cross-Straits ties on the DPP's refusal to embrace the consensus.

Lien came to Beijing on Thursday to attend a two-day cross-Straits economic forum, which ended on Saturday, with a series of trade concessions to Taiwan.

Last April, he became the first KMT chief to visit the mainland in 56 years.