Lien Chan hails cross-straits weekend flights

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Source: CCTV.com | 07-06-2008 09:19

Top members of the Kuomintang have spoken highly of the weekend charter flights across the Taiwan Straits. KMT honorary chairman Lien Chan says the flights are contributing to the peaceful development of the cross-straits relationship. He also says they are opening a new page in the prosperity of the Chinese nation.

He made the remarks while meeting the Chairman of the mainland's Cross-Straits Tourism Communication Association, Shao Qiwei. KMT chairman Wu Poh-Hsiung voiced similar comments during a separate meeting with Shao.

Shao Qiwei (1st L), chairman of the Cross-Straits Tourism Communication Association (CSTCA) of the Chinese mainland, speaks after presenting a gift to Chinese Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan (C) and his wife Lien Fang-yu, in Taipei of southeast China's Taiwan Province July 5, 2008. Shao paid a visit to Lien on Saturday. (Xinhua Photo)

Lien Chan says Chinese on both sides of the Strait had been waiting for nearly five decades for this day. He said it was appropriate for the media to describe weekend charter flights and the arrival of of mainland tourists in Taiwan as "epoch (ee-pok)-making".  He also says the events will benefit compatriots on both sides by stimulating consumption and the economy in Taiwan, while improving mutual understanding.

Lien Chan, Honorary Chairman of Kuomintang said "What we are doing today is important for the peaceful development of cross-straits relations and the development of the Chinese as a people. Everyone will be proud of this generation of Chinese for the efforts we have made."
  
Shao Qiwei thanked Lien Chan for the contribution he had made to cross-straits exchanges and the development of the relationship. He also said the charter flights were helping to bring compatriots on both sides of the Straits closer to each other. Meanwhile, he urged tourism industries on both sides to provide excellent service to mainland tourists traveling to Taiwan.

After the meeting, Shao visited the memorial hall of Dr. Sun Yat-sen to pay his respects to the founding father of the Kuomintang and the Republic of China.