A program of exchanges between grassroots delegates of the
Communist Party of China (CPC) and Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) begins
in Xiamen, Fujian
Province, today with the start of a four-day visit from a
delegation organized by the KMT's Taichung City division.
The delegation is scheduled to hold discussions with Taiwan
business people and students working and studying in Xiamen, as
well as promoting Taichung's specialties like suncakes and
pineapple cakes.
KMT spokesperson Chang Jung-kung said they were the first batch
in the first phase of the exchange program planned following the
consensus reached when former KMT Chairman Lien
Chan visited the mainland at the end of April and start of
May.
Six cities and counties in Taiwan and six mainland cities were
selected for the first phase and paired: Taichung City and Xiamen
City, Keelung City and Ningbo City, Hsinchu City and Suzhou City,
Changhua County and Qingdao City, Tainan City and Shenzhen City,
and Kaohsiung County and Fuzhou City.
Chang said it was impossible to say how many batches of
delegates would be involved overall as the program is intended to
be a constant process. However, he said both parties attached great
importance to it.
Today's 30-member delegation included Mu Kuei-hsin, committee
chairman of the KMT's Taichung City division,?city
official?Chen Tien-wen and Liao Feng-te, director of the KMT's
Organization and Development Committee. The others were from
business and education circles.
At the end of the visit a fair will be held including a show of
Taichung's scenery to promote tourism there.
(China.org.cn by Wind Gu August 23, 2005)