Lien-Soong ticket a done deal -- almost

In return, Soong praised Lien as "an individual of elegance and great sportsmanship."

Soong added the ticket would become official at the end of March or early April after the two parties completed their own nomination processes through their national party congresses.

Both Lien and Soong stressed that the KMT-PFP partnership was not of divvying up the spoil of offices, so called "booty sharing," but sharing the burden of responsibility to lead the nation to a better tomorrow.

"The KMT-PFP partnership is not a marriage of convenience but a marriage of good faith," Soong said.

"KMT-PFP cooperation is of a common morality and justice. We've agreed to cooperate for the sake of national development, Taiwan's future and people's welfare," Lien said.

Singling out Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) at the press conference, Lien said Ma was the party's leading star that the party would recommend Ma to take part in the coalition government to play a role in facilitating the integration of the two parties.

Welcoming the pan-blue collaboration, Ma said he was "excited and gratified."

"I will certainly not be absent from the joint campaign team," Ma said.