Retrospect and Prospects of the KMT/CCP Platform, 2009

 KMT Press Release

Retrospect and Prospects of the KMT/CCP Platform, 2009

December 29, 2009

Looking back on the year 2009, Chang Jung-kung, KMT Deputy Secretary-General and Director of the KMT’s Mainland Affairs Department, said that the mechanism of the KMT/CCP Platform had been reinforced and continued to play its role in cross-Strait relations. The KMT/CCP Platform elevated the quantity and quality of the cross-Strait exchanges and promoted the peaceful development of the cross-Strait relations. Looking toward 2010, the KMT/CCP Platform, under the leadership of KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou and CCP Chairman Hu Jintao, will continue to play a positive role in the development of the cross-Strait relations.  

Chang said that with the support of President Ma Ying-jeou, then KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung led a delegation to meet with CCP Chairman Hu Jintao in Beijing in May 2009. During their talks, both sides of the Strait reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peaceful and co-prosperous cross-Strait relations. In addition, CCP Chairman Hu Jintao also gave a positive response to President Ma Ying-jeou’s initiative to enter into a cross-Strait ECFA.   

In October, the KMT held the 18^th National Party Congress, at which President Ma Ying-jeou was inaugurated as the new KMT Chairman. CCP Chairman Hu Jintao sent a congratulatory message to Chairman Ma. In response, Chairman Ma also gave a warm reply. Chairman Ma demanded the National Party Congress to incorporate into the party’s platform the five points of vision reached between the KMT and the CCP when then Chairman Lien Chan made a journey of peace to the Mainland in April 2005.

Chang said that both sides had reached 29 points of recommendations at the cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum held at Changsha, Hunan in July, so as to promote Chinese culture and strengthen cross-Strait cooperation and exchanges in education and journalism, as well as to deepen cooperation in the culture industry. This was the first time that the cross-Strait Forum focused on the topic of culture and education since the Forum was first held five years ago.    

Chang said that the KMT/CCP Platform was created based on the idea of promoting “KMT/CCP conciliation and dialogue, harmonious cross-Strait relations, and peaceful cross-Strait development.” The KMT/CCP Forum is a party-to-party exchange mechanism. It is different in nature and functions from the institutionalized consultations under official authorization across the Strait. However, the two are complementary to each other, adequate to maintain stable cross-Strait relations and to promote the well-being of the people across the Strait.

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