Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Wu Poh-Hsiung, honorary chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT), in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, July 9, 2010. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)
GUANGZHOU, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, on Friday met with Wu Poh-Hsiung, honorary chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party and other participants to the sixth Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum.
The forum, sponsored by the KMT and the Communist Party of China (CPC), will open in Guangzhou on Saturday and will concentrate on cross-Strait cooperation in green energy, energy conservation and environment protection.
Jia extended his welcome to Wu and conveyed greetings from Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
Jia noted the progress achieved over the past year after the fifth Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum in July 2009.
The realizing of the comprehensive and reciprocal "three direct links," namely direct air links, shipping services and mail services across the Strait, in August 2009, as well as the signing of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) this June, were landmarks in the development of the cross-Strait ties, Jia said.
"We hope the ECFA will take effect as soon as possible and be implemented smoothly to benefit compatriots on both sides of the Strait," Jia said.
Jia also called more compatriots on both sides to make joint efforts to promote peaceful development of cross-Strait ties.
Both the CPC and the KMT had made remarkable efforts in promoting cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, Jia said.
The two sides of the Strait would further solve problems hindering development of cross-Strait relations by enhancing and deepening mutual political trust, Jia said.
Wu said people on the two sides of the Strait shared the same cultural and kindred ties and more exchanges would promote cross-Strait relations and remove misunderstandings between the two sides.
The signing of the ECFA was beneficial to the common development of the two sides as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Wu said.
The KMT would promote the implementation of the ECFA with the utmost confidence and determination, Wu said.
