The Xi-Cheng Li-wun meeting
CCP Readout
General Secretary Xi Jinping Meets with Kuomintang Chair Cheng Li-wun
On the morning of the 10th, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, met in Beijing with a Kuomintang delegation led by Chairperson Cheng Li-wun.
Xi Jinping welcomed Cheng Li-wun and her delegation. He pointed out that the meeting between the leaders of the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang, after a gap of ten years, is of great significance for relations between the two parties and for the development of cross-Strait relations. Compatriots on both sides of the Strait all belong to the Chinese nation. People of all ethnic groups, including Taiwan compatriots, jointly built a unified multi-ethnic state, jointly wrote the glorious history of China, jointly created the splendid Chinese civilization, and jointly fostered the great national spirit. They have also forged the shared conviction that the territory cannot be divided, the country cannot be thrown into disorder, the nation cannot be split apart, and civilization cannot be broken, guiding the Chinese nation in its unremitting self-strengthening and ensuring the continuity of Chinese civilization.
Xi Jinping stressed that no matter how the international situation or the situation in the Taiwan Strait may change, the overarching trend toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the broad trend of compatriots on both sides of the Strait becoming closer, interacting more, and coming together will not change. Compatriots on both sides all hope for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, for improvement and development in cross-Strait relations, and for a better life. This is a responsibility that the CPC and the Kuomintang cannot shirk, and also the driving force for working together. On the common political basis of adhering to the “1992 Consensus” and opposing “Taiwan independence,” we are willing to strengthen exchanges and dialogue together with all political parties, groups, and people from all sectors in Taiwan, including the Kuomintang, in order to seek peace for the two sides, well-being for compatriots, and rejuvenation for the nation, and to keep the future of cross-Strait relations firmly in the hands of the Chinese people themselves.
Xi Jinping put forward four points of opinion on the development of cross-Strait relations.
First, uphold correct identification in order to promote spiritual affinity. Compatriots on both sides of the Strait share the same roots, language, ethnicity, and bloodline, and form a community with a shared destiny through thick and thin. When family members interact, so long as they speak frankly and consult more on matters, there are no contradictions or differences that cannot be resolved. Differences in social systems are not an excuse for division. The CPC and the Kuomintang, as well as compatriots on both sides of the Strait, should stand firm in their national position, inherit and promote Chinese culture, strengthen identification with the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, and the great motherland, and build the resolve, backbone, and confidence of being upright Chinese people.
Second, uphold peaceful development in order to safeguard the common home. The mainland and Taiwan both belong to one China, and China is the common home of the Chinese nation. Compatriots on both sides should protect and build this common home well. The foundation lies in adhering to the “1992 Consensus” and opposing “Taiwan independence,” and the core lies in recognizing that both sides of the Strait belong to one China. Harmony in the family leads to prosperity in all things. We welcome any proposition that is conducive to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and we will do our utmost in anything that is conducive to that peaceful development. “Taiwan independence” is the chief culprit in undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait, and we will never condone or tolerate it. The CPC and the Kuomintang, as well as compatriots on both sides, should uphold the greater national cause, oppose separatism for “Taiwan independence” and external interference, promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and firmly safeguard the common home of the Chinese nation.
Third, uphold exchange and integration in order to improve people’s well-being. The goal of developing cross-Strait relations is to enable compatriots on both sides to live better lives. We will continue to uphold the concept that people on both sides are one family, and actively do practical, good, and helpful things for Taiwan compatriots. The mainland of the motherland has magnificent landscapes and a vast market. Taiwan compatriots are welcome to come home often, Taiwan youth are welcome to come to the mainland for exchange and development, and Taiwan agricultural, fishery, and quality products are welcome to enter households across the mainland. The CPC and the Kuomintang, along with compatriots on both sides, should jointly expand exchanges, contacts, and integration across the Strait, and enhance kinship and well-being for compatriots on both sides.
Fourth, uphold unity and struggle in order to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This year marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen, whose lifelong pursuit was the revitalization of China and national reunification. Today, we have successfully embarked on a path of Chinese modernization, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable. We firmly believe that more and more Taiwan compatriots will come to properly understand the mainland’s social system and development path, and will deeply recognize that Taiwan’s future development lies in a strong motherland, and that the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots are tied to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This year marks the opening year of the mainland’s 15th Five-Year Plan. We are willing to share development opportunities and成果 with the broad masses of Taiwan compatriots, and jointly strengthen the Chinese national economy. The CPC and the Kuomintang should consolidate political mutual trust, maintain positive interaction, unite compatriots on both sides of the Strait, and work hand in hand to create a bright future of national reunification and national rejuvenation.
Cheng Li-wun said that the people on both sides of the Strait are all descendants of the Yan and Huang Emperors, all belong to the Chinese nation, are all nurtured by Chinese culture, and are all Chinese and members of one family. They should work together to advance the cause of revitalizing China proposed by Sun Yat-sen. The CPC and the Kuomintang should, on the common political basis of adhering to the “1992 Consensus” and opposing “Taiwan independence,” strengthen political mutual trust, give full play to the function of the communication platform, commit themselves to preserving Chinese history and promoting Chinese culture, advance exchanges and cooperation across the Strait in such areas as civil society, grassroots communities, economy and trade, and culture, support youth exchange and development, improve the shared well-being of the people, promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, create a bright future for cross-Strait relations, and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Wang Huning, Cai Qi, and others attended the meeting.
KMT readout
Formal talks between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) resume after a decade
Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun calls for joint cross-strait efforts to develop institutions and initiatives that contribute to global peace
She envisions the Taiwan Strait as a channel that connects kinship and civilization, and as a symbol of safeguarding peace
Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) led a delegation this morning (April 10) to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for formal party-to-party talks with the Central Committee of the CCP and General Secretary Xi Jinping. Reflecting on this first formal meeting between the two parties in a decade, Chairwoman Zheng stated that reconciliation and peace across the Taiwan Strait should be seen only as the starting point of joint efforts, and that both parties bear a greater responsibility and mission toward people on both sides of the Strait and all descendants of the Chinese nation.
Chairwoman Zheng expressed her firm belief that peace is a shared moral value across the Strait. She emphasized that both sides should move beyond political confrontation and work together to conceptualize and build a “community of shared destiny” characterized by mutual benefit and prosperity. She also called for exploring institutional solutions to prevent and avoid war, turning the Taiwan Strait into a model for the peaceful resolution of conflicts worldwide.
She further expressed hope that the KMT and CCP would jointly promote the institutionalization of cross-strait peace, and advance the planning and construction of structured and sustainable mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation. Such efforts, she noted, would help make peaceful development across the Strait irreversible and fundamentally eliminate the drivers of conflict.
Participants from the KMT side included Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun; Vice Chair and Secretary-General Lee Chien-lung; Vice Chairs Chang Jung-kung and Hsiao Hsu-tsen; Vice Chairman of the think tank Lee Hung-yuan; Presidium members of the Central Evaluation Committee Su Chi and Yuan Chien-sheng; Special Advisor to the Chair Lee Te-wei; Director of the Cultural and Communications Committee Yin Nai-ching; Director of the Mainland Affairs Department Chang Ya-ping; Director of the Youth Affairs Development Committee Lien Sheng-wu; Spokesperson Chiang Yi-chen; Director of the International Affairs Department Tung Chia-yu; and Central Party Affairs Advisor Lei Hung-yi.
Remarks of the two Presidents:
President Xi
Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure to meet you all at this time of spring blossoms. Yesterday felt like the drizzly Qingming season, but today the weather is bright and sunny—making this gathering all the more welcome. After a decade, leaders of our two parties meet again, which carries important significance for both inter-party relations and cross-Strait relations. First, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, I would like to warmly welcome Chairperson Cheng Li-wun and her delegation.
People on both sides of the Strait belong to the same Chinese nation and share common ancestry. The Chinese nation, with more than 5,000 years of civilization, has been jointly built by all its people, including our compatriots in Taiwan. Together, we have opened up this vast land, established a unified multi-ethnic state, written a glorious history, created a rich and enduring civilization, and cultivated a great national spirit. This shared heritage has forged a deep sense that our territory must not be divided, our country must not fall into disorder, our nation must not be fragmented, and our civilization must not be interrupted. It has guided the Chinese nation in its continuous self-strengthening and ensured the enduring vitality of Chinese civilization.
Despite the many trials of history, our compatriots in Taiwan have never forgotten their roots on the mainland. Their hearts remain connected to the motherland and to the Chinese nation. Even during the painful period when Taiwan was occupied, people in Taiwan maintained a strong sense of Chinese identity and deep cultural attachment. Many made great sacrifices, even giving their lives, to demonstrate that they are an inseparable part of the Chinese nation. The shared roots and spirit of the Chinese people are carried in our blood, grounded in history, and embedded in our hearts—something that cannot be forgotten or erased.
Today, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Yet no matter how the international situation evolves, the overall direction of human progress will not change, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not be halted, and the trend of closer interaction and connection between people on both sides of the Strait will continue. This is the course of history, and we have full confidence in it.
The world today is far from peaceful, and peace is all the more precious. People on both sides of the Strait are all Chinese—members of one family. We all seek peace, development, exchange, and cooperation. This is the shared aspiration of our people. The meeting between leaders of our two parties today is precisely to safeguard peace and stability in our common home, to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and to ensure that future generations can share a better future.
We are willing, on the basis of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing “Taiwan independence,” to work together with all political parties in Taiwan—including the Kuomintang—as well as with people from all sectors of society, to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, promote peace across the Strait, improve the well-being of our compatriots, and advance national rejuvenation. The future of cross-Strait relations should firmly remain in the hands of the Chinese people themselves.
That is all I would like to say. I now look forward to hearing Chairperson Cheng Li-wun’s views.
President Cheng Li-wun
Respected General Secretary Xi Jinping and distinguished leaders, good afternoon:
Today, the leaders of your party and ours are able to gather together for dialogue after a full decade. At this very moment, I deeply feel that the eyes of global concern, as well as the heavy responsibility entrusted by history, are upon every one of us here. What we are facing together today is a highly turbulent and unsettled era, but also an era full of hope; an era in which conflict has spread more widely than at any time since the Second World War, yet it may also be an era in which all sides, after painful reflection, become determined to rebuild peace. The future direction of relations across the Taiwan Strait is a question we must face together.
There is no denying that in more than a century of interaction, relations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party have been full of twists and turns. Yet what we have always pursued in common has been how to enable the Chinese nation to move from decline toward rejuvenation. Since our party chairman Lien Chan’s peace journey broke the ice in 2005, the two parties have approached the issue with a forward-looking historical vision, standing at the level of the nation and the times, and have committed themselves to promoting reconciliation and peaceful development across the Strait.
In fact, peace and reconciliation across the Strait should be only the starting point of the joint efforts of your party and ours. We bear an even greater responsibility and mission toward the people on both sides of the Strait and toward all descendants of the Yan and Huang Emperors. Therefore, the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” should be a shared rejuvenation for people on both sides of the Strait; it is a renewed awakening and flourishing of the spirit of Chinese civilization, and also a compassionate vision of a world of great harmony, making a positive contribution to world peace and human progress. I firmly believe that this path of “revitalizing China” will surely inspire hearts and lead the times, and that this alone can be the shared value and common responsibility of both sides of the Strait.
Under the leadership of General Secretary Xi, the mainland’s development has not only achieved complete poverty alleviation and built a moderately prosperous society in all respects, with extraordinary accomplishments, but has also continued to soar. The 15th Five-Year Plan has just begun, and it will surely reach a new level, something worth looking forward to. Although people on both sides of the Strait live under different systems, we should respect one another and also move toward one another. I believe that peace is a shared moral principle and value across the Strait. Both sides should rise above political confrontation and jointly think through and build a “community of shared destiny” of mutual benefit and common prosperity across the Strait, and seek an institutional solution to prevent and avoid war, so that the Taiwan Strait may become a model for the peaceful resolution of conflict in the world.
Moreover, even though the world is becoming increasingly polarized and some values shared by humanity are gradually being cast aside, we will stand together in upholding the shared concept of sustainability for humankind. We should work hand in hand in areas such as new energy, disease prevention and control, and the ethics and application of artificial intelligence, using technology to serve human well-being and to promote sustainable development in the world.
I hope that through the tireless efforts of your party and ours, the Taiwan Strait will no longer be a focal point of potential conflict, nor will it become a chessboard for external intervention. The Taiwan Strait should be a strait that connects kinship, civilization, and hope, and a symbol of peace jointly safeguarded by Chinese people on both sides. We will show the world that people on both sides of the Strait who share Chinese civilization possess the highest wisdom to resolve difficult differences, and the greatest compassion to make crucial contributions to peace and development for humanity. Your party and ours should work together to build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation and set an example for the integration and prosperity of human civilizations.
I look forward to the Kuomintang and the Communist Party jointly promoting the institutionalization of peace across the Strait. On the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing Taiwan independence, the two sides should further plan and establish institutionalized and sustainable mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation, so that peaceful development across the Strait becomes irreversible and all sources of conflict are fundamentally removed. We should work together to launch a “Chinese Civilization Rejuvenation Project”: taking Chinese culture as the foundation and harmony and coexistence as the core, the two sides should jointly study and promote various systems and initiatives that help eliminate disputes and create peace, and transform successful experience into a model that conflict regions around the world can learn from.
Therefore, at present, there are at least three directions in which both sides can work together:
First, to commit ourselves to preserving Chinese history and promoting Chinese culture:
The overwhelming majority of Taiwanese people’s ancestors crossed from the mainland to Taiwan; they bear Chinese surnames, speak Chinese, celebrate Chinese festivals, and worship Chinese deities. Over the centuries, migrants who moved to Taiwan from various parts of the mainland at different times have continuously enriched the Chinese cultural content of Taiwanese society. Chinese culture has always been part of Taiwan society’s very DNA, and it is practiced in the daily lives of Taiwanese people.
On the gravestones of many Taiwanese ancestors are inscribed their places of origin on the mainland, such as Yingchuan in Henan, or various places in Fujian Province, and so on. The deities worshipped in temples throughout Taiwan—such as the Yellow Emperor, Fuxi, Shennong, Guan Gong, and Mazu, as well as Baosheng Dadi, the Sacred King Who Opened Zhangzhou, Qingshui Patriarch, and the Kings of the Three Mountains—all originated on the mainland.
Therefore, the people on both sides of the Strait are all descendants of the Yan and Huang Emperors, all belong to the Chinese nation, and are all nourished by Chinese culture; we are one family. In modern history, from the standpoint of being Chinese, we have shared the experience of defending our homeland and resisting foreign invasion. By continually promoting these common roots, and reinforcing that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one nation, share one culture, and inherit the same historical memory, there will be no differences across the Strait that cannot be resolved, no emotional bonds that cannot be set aside, and only then can history move forward.
Second, to commit ourselves to enhancing shared well-being and promoting exchanges and cooperation:
In 2005, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party reached five common visions, opening a golden period of peaceful development in cross-Strait relations. Starting in 2006, think tanks from the two parties cooperated in holding eleven Cross-Strait Forums, putting forward more than one hundred common views and promoting cross-Strait economic, trade, and cultural exchanges and cooperation. During the Kuomintang’s eight years in office, the two sides signed 23 agreements, which continue to benefit people’s livelihoods on both sides to this day. This February, the think tanks of the two parties resumed the Cross-Strait Forum after a ten-year gap and reached fifteen common views, hoping to once again guide and advance public support for mutually beneficial integration across the Strait.
On the basis of these existing achievements, the two sides should actively promote grassroots exchanges and cooperation in economic and trade matters, culture, youth, and other fields and at all levels, continuously accumulating goodwill and deepening mutual understanding. People on both sides should travel more, make more friends, and strengthen industrial linkages so as to expand mutual benefit. By continually improving the shared well-being of both sides, we will create the strongest guarantee for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.
Taiwanese businesspeople and compatriots are important drivers of cross-Strait exchange and cooperation, bridges of mutual understanding between people on both sides, and the most important supporting force and supervising force for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. The Chinese Kuomintang has always cared about the well-being and rights protection of Taiwanese businesspeople and compatriots on the mainland. I look forward to, and believe, that in the future the mainland’s protection of the rights and interests of Taiwanese businesspeople and compatriots will certainly become even more complete.
Third, to commit ourselves to moving toward a better cross-Strait future and strengthening people’s livelihoods and well-being:
Human society is currently at the wealthiest stage in history, yet it is also an era in which development and distribution are the most unequal. The global geopolitical landscape is becoming increasingly volatile, and uncertainty in the global economy is rising accordingly. People on both sides of the Strait enjoy advanced technology and convenient lives, but the difficulties and challenges we face may also be unprecedented. I believe that no hardship or obstacle can stop the determination of people on both sides of the Strait to join hands in pursuing a better life.
Because of the closeness between the two sides in terms of geography, social patterns, cultural customs, and industrial structure, our experiences and strengths can complement each other and generate mutual benefit when dealing with modern challenges such as climate change, energy security, technology governance, and population aging. I hope the two sides can continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in several forward-looking fields, including energy conservation and carbon reduction, disaster prevention and mitigation, medical care and elder care, and artificial intelligence, so that together we can build a future vision that will surely help improve a community with a shared future for mankind.
The young people of both sides today are the generation in the history of the Chinese nation with the highest level of education, the broadest and deepest understanding of the world, the greatest vitality and creativity, and the clearest sense of how to use peaceful development to realize their talents. The hope of both sides lies in the youth. We should encourage young people to engage in more exchanges, explore life’s questions and development visions, and work together toward the future. When young people on both sides appreciate each other, inspire each other, and grow together, cross-Strait relations will continue to develop in a positive direction and endure over the long term.
On this trip, I take “peace across the Strait, benefiting people’s livelihoods” as my personal aspiration, and on this basis I would like to put forward the following five propositions:
First, to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations:
The peaceful development of cross-Strait relations accords with the common wishes of the people on both sides and with the overall interests of the Chinese nation, and it must be firmly advanced.
Peace and development are basic human needs. People on both sides of the Strait should not stand in opposition to one another, but should live in harmony. Both sides, and both the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, have a responsibility to promote Chinese culture, to foster peace through exchange, to enhance development through cooperation, to institutionalize the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and to gradually achieve a peace framework.
Second, to seek the restoration of cross-Strait consultation mechanisms:
Cross-Strait consultation and contact mechanisms once played an indispensable role in peace and development for both sides, and they should be restored.
The laws and regulations on each side of the Strait both stipulate that the two sides are not state-to-state relations. In 1992, the authorized bodies of both sides reached a consensus that each side would express, by oral statement, its adherence to the one-China principle, while at the same time seeking common ground while reserving differences. This became the political foundation of cross-Strait consultation and contact mechanisms. Historical facts cannot be denied. On this basis, the consultation mechanism should be restored so as to build a virtuous cycle of goodwill.
Third, to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and enhance mutual benefit across the Strait:
A peaceful and stable Taiwan Strait is what all parties in the region hope for, and mutually beneficial cross-Strait relations are what public opinion on both sides looks forward to. The two reinforce one another. The relevant provisions on both sides and international reality all reflect one China. On the basis of these provisions and realities, the two sides should cooperate with each other, handle differences, and consult on resolving the state of confrontation, thereby contributing to regional security. The 23 agreements on economic cooperation, including the three direct links and tariff reductions, have promoted common development and shared prosperity. Their results are clear for all to see, have been affirmed by all sectors on both sides, and should continue to be advanced on the basis of the shared political foundation so as to expand tangible benefits and strengthen public support for peace across the Strait.
Fourth, to expand Taiwan’s international participation space through political mutual trust:
Taiwan once participated in the World Health Assembly and the International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly in an appropriate manner on the basis of the 1992 Consensus, but later lost that opportunity.
In the future, once the two sides rebuild political mutual trust, they should work to enable Taiwan to return to the World Health Assembly and the International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly, and explore Taiwan’s participation in forums such as the General Assembly of INTERPOL. Regional economic integration bears directly on Taiwan’s economic development. Cross-Strait economic cooperation can be mutually reinforcing with Taiwan’s participation in regional economic integration, and the two sides should explore Taiwan’s accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Fifth, to continue giving full play to the communication platform between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party:
The communication platform between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party has always been a force for the right path in the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and it should continue to play its role.
The mechanisms of the platform, including high-level dialogue, think tank forums, youth exchanges, grassroots exchanges, and protections for Taiwanese businesspeople, have all played a leading and supportive role in opening up cross-Strait relations. At present and in the future, we should continue to use this platform to encourage exchanges, cooperation, communication, and consultation in various fields and at all levels across the Strait, so as to bring peace to the Taiwan Strait and greater well-being to the people.
Finally, I would like once again to thank the CPC Central Committee and General Secretary Xi for the invitation. Exchanges and interactions should naturally be reciprocal. I sincerely hope that one day in the future I may have the opportunity to be the host and welcome General Secretary Xi and everyone present here in Taiwan.
Thank you all.