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KMT leader: Taiwan people seek peace
By Zheng Caixiong, Song Wenwei (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-03-30 05:47
People from both sides of the Taiwan Straits will benefit from closer economic ties, Chiang Pin-kun, vice-chairman of the Taiwan-based Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT), said yesterday.
Chiang, who arrived in Nanjing yesterday, said Taiwan businesses and investors in the mainland will help the economic development in the Yangtze River Delta.
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Chiang Pin-Kun, vice-chairman of the Taiwan-based Chinese Kuomintang party (KMT), prays during a visit to the Guangzhou Huanghuagang Martyr Cemetery March 29, 2005. The cemetery was in memory of martyrs killed in the Huanghuagang Uprising, led by Dr Sun Yat-sen, to overthrow the rule of the late corrupt Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) government in April of 1911. [newsphoto]
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Li Yuanchao, secretary of Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said during his meeting with Chiang that the local government will continue to provide quality services to Taiwan businessmen and protect their interests.
Chiang and his delegation are scheduled to pay tribute to Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum and the Presidential Palace this morning.
Dr Sun Yat-sen is the pioneer of Chinese revolution and the founding father of the republic.
During a trip to Guangzhou earlier yesterday, Chiang reiterated that most Taiwanese people seek long-term peace, stability and development.
He said he hoped his ongoing mainland trip will bring the views of Taiwanese citizens to the mainland and enhance mutual understanding.
Chiang Pin-kun, vice-chairman of the Taiwan-based Chinese Kuomintang Party, bows to pay tribute to a statue of Dr Sun Yat-sen at Sun's mausoleum in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province March 30, 2005. Dr Sun is the pioneer of Chinese revolution and the founding father of the republic. Chiang and his delegation will also visit Beijing and meet senior officials from the Communist Party of China before the end of their trip on Friday. [newsphoto] |
"KMT always seeks to solve cross-Straits issues through dialogue and negotiations," Chiang told reporters in Guangzhou yesterday morning, after he visited the Huanghuagang 72-Martyrs Cemetery in downtown Guangzhou.
On behalf of KMT Chairman Lien Chan and all the KMT party members, Chiang paid homage to the martyrs who were slain during the Huanghuagang Uprising in Guangzhou in 1911.
"I feel a bit sad while cherishing the memory of the KMT martyrs," said Chiang.
Chiang and his wife laid wreaths at the tombs and watered a 101-year-old pine tree that was planted by Dr Sun Yat-sen, the founder and premier of the KMT.
Dr Sun Yat-sen died in 1925 at the age of 59.
Chiang and his delegation received a warm welcome from Taiwanese investors in Guangdong as well as from local residents while he was visiting the commemoration park.
Many Taiwanese investors are expecting Chiang's mainland trip to help ease current cross-Straits tension.
Chiang Pin-kun, vice-chairman of the Taiwan-based Chinese Kuomintang Party, waves to the crowd upon his arrival in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province March 29, 2005. Chiang is scheduled to pay tribute to Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum and visit the Presidential Palace March 30 and then head to Beijing. [newsphoto] |
Frank Tsai, executive director of Airmate Electrical (Shenzhen) Co Ltd, said many Taiwanese investors are hoping Chiang's mainland visit will contribute to a further improvement in cross-Straits relations, benefiting many Taiwanese investors on the mainland. Tsai urged Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian to give up his "independence" activities.
"As a leader of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian should focus his efforts on boosting economic development and trying to ensure Taiwanese people live better lives, instead of frequently challenging the mainland's bottom line," Tsai told China Daily yesterday.
Chiang promised he would try to help Taiwan investors overcome their difficulties while doing business on the mainland.
Guangdong Province has attracted the largest number of Taiwanese investors in the country.
The province, the home of Dr Sun Yat-sen, has registered about 300,000 Taiwanese investors and their families.
Guangdong has seen more than 18,440 Taiwan-funded projects with a total investment of more than US$35.6 billion.
Chiang and his delegation will also visit Beijing and meet senior officials from the Communist Party of China before the end of their trip on Friday.
(China Daily 03/30/2005 page2)
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