In one-China frame talks may cover any issue
By Cao Desheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-05-04 05:49

The Chinese mainland is ready to talk about everything, even the "missile" issue, with Taiwan, but only under the one-China principle, a senior mainland official said yesterday.

Wang Zaixi, deputy director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office in Beijing after Lien Chan, chairman of Taiwan's main opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), returned to Taiwan.

Wang Zaixi, spokesman for the Taiwan Work Office of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee. [newsphoto/file]

The possibility of discussing the matter has been underscored by the press communique issued last week by the CPC and the KMT during Lien's visit.

Wang said at the press conference that the mainland expects a greater consensus to be reached with James Soong, chairman of Taiwan's People First Party (PFP), when he visits the mainland.

Wang said he hopes Soong's visit will help "reach more common ground promoting cross-Straits relations." Soong is scheduled to head a PFP delegation for a visit to the mainland starting tomorrow.

"But the PFP is different to the KMT," Wang said. "I believe Mr Soong will demonstrate his own characteristics."

He reiterated that the mainland is ready to contact and enter into dialogue with any political party in Taiwan that recognizes the "1992 consensus," opposes "Taiwan independence" and supports the development of cross-Straits relations.

"For the time being, we have no party-to-party exchanges with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for the key reason that its party constitution advocates 'Taiwan independence'," Wang said.

"We can resume dialogue and consultations with Chen Shui-bian and the DPP on the condition that the DPP administration first endorse 1992 consensus that Taiwan and the mainland are 'one China' and drop the 'independence' clause from its constitution," Wang said.

But he stressed that DPP members at middle and lower levels are welcome to visit the mainland in a proper capacity.

"We have invited eight mayors from Taiwan to attend the Asian city mayors' summit to be held in Chongqing in southwestern China this year, including some who are DPP members," Wang said.

To facilitate exchanges across the Straits, Wang said the mainland hopes to start direct cargo flights soon and promote direct passenger flights.

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