Zeng Qinghong (R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, meets with visiting James CY Soong, chairman of the People First Party (PFP) in Taiwan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 11, 2005. Beijing is the last leg of the PFP delegation's nine-day mainland visit. (Xinhua Photo)

Zeng Qinghong, a senior official ofthe Communist Party of China (CPC), met with and hosted a banquet for James CY Soong, chairman of the People First Party (PFP) in Taiwan here Wednesday, who is heading a high-level PFP delegation from Taiwan on its first visit to the mainland.

Zeng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, spoke highly of PFP's consistent stand of sticking to the one-China principle, endorsing the "1992 consensus," opposing and checking "Taiwan independence" and promoting the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

The formal talks between General Secretary Hu Jintao of the CPC Central Committee and Soong on Thursday will be a milestone in the history of the two parties' relations and a great event on the cross-Straits relations, said Zeng, also a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.

Soong's visit closely followed that by Kuomintang of China Lien Chan, who made a historic visit to the mainland during April 26 toMay 5.

Zeng said both leaders and members of the two delegations had brought the aspiration of Taiwanese people who want to seek communication, peace, stability and development.

The extensive exchanges and dialogues between leaders of the CPC, KMT and PFP were aimed at bringing bright prospects for peace, stability, a win-win cooperation in cross-Straits relations, as the exchanges and dialogues were based on the one-China principle,"1992 consensus," opposing "Taiwan independence", Zeng said.

Editor: Yan