BEIJING, May 9 -- Hot on the heels of Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's trip to the mainland, James Soong is making his way round the mainland cities Xi'an, Nanjing, Shanghai, Xiangtan and Beijing, from May 5 to May 13. The chairman of the People First Party (PFP) in Taiwan, heading a PFP delegation, will meet Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in an effort to promote cross-Straits peace.

　　This is a historic move of exchange and dialogue between the PFP and CPC, as well as another significant event in cross-Straits exchanges, which will benefit not only communication and understanding between the two parties, but push cross-Straits relations in a healthy direction.

　　Born in Xiangtan, Hunan Province in 1942, to a father who was in military service, Soong plunged into the political arena after his education in the United States. He held the posts of deputy secretary-general and secretary-general of the KMT, as well as director of "news bureau," and governor of Taiwan Province.

　　But around 1998, Soong was pushed aside by Lee Teng-hui, whose dictatorial style concerned him. So he quit the KMT in 1999 and set up the PFP in March 2000.

　　The PFP has always upheld the principles of one China and "the 1992 consensus" and opposed "Taiwan independence," which means that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one China and separatist proposals like "two countries," "one country on each side" and "two Chinas" are not what the party believes. The PFP says the differences between the two sides are because of a 56-year separation.

　　Most PFP members are from the KMT and had been fed up with Lee's "Taiwan independence" rhetoric and his despotic approach. Most PFP supporters used to be on the side of the KMT and have leaned towards reunification and against "Taiwan independence." Therefore, the PFP has come out of the KMT and held similar views to the KMT's. The PFP is part of the pan-Blue camp, which is dominated by the KMT.

　　The "legislative" elections held in Taiwan at the end of last year showed there had been a subtle change in Taiwanese society.

　　The public in Taiwan then started to show its dissatisfaction with the rising tension across the Straits as a result of hyping by the "Taiwan independence" forces on issues such as reunification versus "independence."

　　The mainland has been promoting charter flights during the Chinese Spring Festival season and opening up the market for Taiwan agricultural products.

　　That and General Secretary Hu Jintao's four-point statement regarding cross-Straits relations have all displayed goodwill towards people in Taiwan and further sparked the desire of people in Taiwan for a more practical cross-Straits relationship and continued dialogue in the spirit of promoting peace and stability.

　　The mainland has said it welcomes any political parties, groups and heavy-hitters for visits.

　　General Secretary Hu Jintao issued invitations to Lien Chan of the KMT and James Soong of the PFP, providing an opportunity and a foundation for current events.

　　Soong's trip continues the historic dialogue between the KMT and CPC after a 56-year separation. It also marks the formal beginning of exchanges between the CPC and PFP, signaling a new era in the inter-party communication on the two sides.

　　Hu's invitations provide a platform where the mainland can communicate with various parties, bodies and the public in Taiwan, dispelling misunderstanding and building mutual trust.

　　As the second and third largest political parties in Taiwan, the KMT and the PFP combined have about half of the population on their side and over half of the seats in the "Legislative Yuan," which can check and restrain the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration.

　　Soong's trip to the mainland will further contribute to cross-Straits reconciliation and co-operation, and will also continue to guide public opinion on dialogue and exchanges in the areas of economy and culture. It will help maintain Taiwan's "mainland craze" and diminish the "instant independence" forces.

　　The DPP, aware that "instant independence" does not hold with all opinion in Taiwan but eager for growth and expansion, must face a choice: to keep on the road of "instant independence" or adopt a more pragmatic line of policies in cross-Straits relations.

　　(Source: China Daily)