Friday, April 29 2005 15:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: In the highest-level contact between the two sides since the end of a civil war in 1949, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Taiwan's main Opposition leader Lian Chan today (Apr 29, 2005) held a "historic" meeting in Beijing in an effort to improve cross-Strait relations.

In his much-anticipated meeting with visiting Kuomintang (KMT) Party Chairman Lien, Hu, also General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), said both CPC and KMT need to carefully study real thinking of the people across the Straits and follow the prevailing trend of public opinions.

"Both of us should jointly strive for peace and stability in order to create the great revitalisation of the Chinese nation," Hu said while warmly welcoming Lien and his 60-member delegation at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

Hu, dressed in a dark-coloured western suit, said the "historic meeting" between him and Lien marked that exchanges between the two parties have entered "a new development stage" and reflected their common determination and sincerity to boost cross-Straits relations.

This common step taken by the two parties will "go down in the history of the development of cross-Straits relations," Hu said.

During the 30-minute open meeting at the delegation-level, which was telecast live, Lien said he has come to Beijing for the first time since leaving the eastern Chinese city of Shanghai in 1945, to seek peace and reconciliation.

"We cannot change the past, but we can grasp the opportunities of the future," Lien said.