Mainland’s Taiwan affairs official meets with KMT vice-chairman

SHANGHAI — Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, met with Andrew Hsia, vice-chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, in Shanghai on Thursday.

On the common political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing “Taiwan independence,” the mainland would like to work with the KMT in advancing relations between the two parties and across the Taiwan Strait, Song said.

He called on the two sides to jointly promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, oppose separatist activities seeking “Taiwan independence” and external interference, safeguard peace, improve people’s wellbeing, and push forward national reunification and rejuvenation.

Song also noted that the mainland will not tolerate those actions of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party authorities that ignore the safety of mainland fishermen and hurt the feelings of people on both sides.

Hsia, on behalf of the KMT, extended condolences to the family members of the victims of the recent fatal boat incident, and called for quick action to find out the truth and handle the aftermath.

The KMT is willing to maintain cross-Strait peace and stability, promote exchanges and dialogue, and work for the sound development of cross-Strait relations on the common political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing “Taiwan independence,” he said.