Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan (連戰), in Washington to accept an International Leadership Foundation award on Thursday, called on both sides of the Strait to adhere to a five-point agreement reached in 2005, which includes signing a cross-strait peace treaty.
After receiving the award from former US secretary of labor Elaine Chao (趙小蘭), Lien said the award was for his efforts in 2005, when he visited China on an ice-breaking trip — the first time the heads of the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had met in six decades.
Lien told the ceremony that efforts by the Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) government to create more international space for Taiwan at the time had led to rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and prompted his visit to Beijing.
The ceremony was attended by Lien’s wife, Lien Fang Yu (連方瑀), Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office Representative Jason Yuan (袁健生) and his wife, and International Leadership Foundation chief executive Tong Chiling (董繼玲).
Meanwhile, Lien said a five-point consensus he reached with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) had set the foundation for governmental and non-governmental communication as well as the tone for “peaceful” development.
He called on both sides to adhere to the consensus.
The Lien-Hu meeting in 2005 saw the leaders of both political parties agree on the resumption of cross-strait negotiations as soon as possible, moves to end the state of war that existed between the two sides, the establishment of a system promoting cross-strait economic interaction, promotion and negotiation over international events and the establishment of a regular platform through which both parties would be able to communicate.
Hu and Lien are expected to meet again at the APEC leaders’ summit in Vladivostok, Russia, in September, where Lien will represent Taiwan.
Lien did not talk to reporters after the ceremony.
Additional reporting with CNA
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