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KMT cadres to visit CCP counterparts

Low-ranking Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) cadres will visit China next week to work with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the wake of a historic meeting between leaders of the two parties, a KMT official said yesterday.

The first group of cadres from the party's local offices will depart for the eastern port city of Qingdao on Aug. 26, said the KMT official on condition of anonymity.

The visit was intended to be part of an exchange program involving workers from both sides, but restrictions imposed by Taiwan's government have so far blocked attempts to bring CCP cadres to Taiwan, according to the official, who said he was not authorized to speak to the media.

"The ruling Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] has been hostile to the mainland, but we feel it is necessary to take concrete steps to increase mutual understanding," he said.

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) approved the exchange program this week as a further step toward reconciliation with the CCP, the official said.

Lien, who hands over the party reins to Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) later today, visited China in late April and early May, becoming the first KMT leader to set foot there since 1949.

During his visit, Lien and Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) agreed to establish a platform for regular exchanges between the two parties, including visits by party officials at various levels.
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