Soong will back status quo in Hu talks

People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) will hold talks with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials based on the principle of recognizing and respecting the cross-strait status quo, PFP Legislator Lee Yung-ping (李永萍) said yesterday.

Lee, one of the members of a PFP delegation heading to China on Sunday in advance of Soong's visit early next month, made the remarks at the Legislative Yuan after returning home late on Monday.

According to Lee, the Chinese side has made it clear that talks between Soong and Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) will be based on that principle.

Lee said that recognizing and respecting the current situation separating the two sides of the Strait echoes the strong desire of the majority of Taiwan's people to maintain the status quo. She also said that the visits by Soong and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) would help China better understand public opinion in Taiwan and that everyone should wish them a good trip.

A wide range of topics will be touched on during the Soong-Hu meeting, including the disputed "1992 consensus" and the 10-point agreement signed by Soong and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) following their Feb. 24 meeting, she said.

She added that the results of the meeting would be documented but that the two would not ink any accord.

Soong is scheduled to depart for China on May 5.