Chinese President Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday, marking the first high-level cross-strait political dialogue in a decade. The meeting comes amid heightened global attention to stability in the Taiwan Strait region.
Cheng's delegation, invited by the CPC Central Committee, previously visited Jiangsu Province and Shanghai before arriving in Beijing. Xi emphasized the meeting's significance for advancing cross-strait relations, stating: "No matter how the international landscape evolves, the momentum for national rejuvenation and cross-strait unity remains unstoppable."
The Chinese leader reaffirmed commitments to peace and improved livelihoods for people on both sides of the strait, calling for strengthened exchanges based on adherence to the 1992 Consensus and opposition to separatist activities. "Differences in social systems should not justify division," Xi asserted during the talks.
Analysts suggest the dialogue could pave the way for enhanced economic cooperation and cultural exchanges, with Xi expressing willingness to collaborate with all Taiwan-based political groups supporting peaceful development. The meeting concluded with both sides endorsing continued party-to-party communication mechanisms.
