HONG KONG, April 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Taiwan media said Saturday that the
landmark handshake between Hu Jintao and Lien Chan, top leaders of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party, has provided a
favorable chance for sound development of relations across the Taiwan Straits as
well as for maintaining cross-Straits peace and stability.
The five-point consensus reached by the two parties has evoked wide
response from the Taiwan public, according to reports reaching here.
Central Daily News said in its editorial titled "Advancing to Win-Win by
Adhering to Peace" that the five-point consensus reached at the Hu-Lien meeting
has covered all the cross-Straits related issues. It is obvious that both sides
are aimed at peaceful development of cross-Straits relations based on the 1992
consensus and hope to promote cooperation and exchanges through consultation.
The editorial added that according to the above principle, the dream of the
23 million Taiwan people will come true, including the end of cross-Straits
hostility, the establishment of a mechanism of military mutual trust and a peace
accord between both sides of the Taiwan Straits.
Meanwhile, both sides of the Straits can start all-round economic
cooperation, which may be a stimulus to an economic slowdown of Taiwan. Measures
can be taken to promote "direct exchanges of mail service, trade, air and
shipping services across the Taiwan Straits," increase and guarantee investment
and trade across the Straits, enhance cooperation in agriculture and fishery
sectors, and solve the problem of selling Taiwan agricultural products to the
mainland.
The editorial said the government of the Democratic Progressive Party must
be reminded that peace and development are not only in the interests of people
on both sides of Taiwan Straits but also represent the global trend. To
guarantee the fundamental interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan
Straits through necessary dialogue and communication is a proper measure for a
responsible party.
In an editorial titled "Strategic Choice Under New Situation of
Cross-Straits Relations," China Times said the hope for peaceful development of
cross-Straits relations expressed by the two top party leaders implied that
cross-Straits relations tend to develop in a peaceful tone.
The editorial said Lien Chan publicly expressed his position of adhering to
the 1992 consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence", which provided another
choice to the Taiwan authority in dilemma.
The Mun Sang Poh editorial titled "Journey of Peace and Healthy
Communication," said Lien's position against "Taiwan independence" reflected the
aspiration of most Taiwan people. It said the meeting of Hu Jintao and Lien Chan
has "epoch-making significance" because it creates a healthy atmosphere for the
development of cross-Straits relations and lays a foundation for cross-Straits
communications.
The editorial said Lien and his team have successfully accomplished their
"journey of peace".
The Commercial Times said in its editorial that since the Hu-Lien summit
has reached five-point consensus, whether cross-Straits relations go on a sound
track will be decided by the reaction of the ruling party.