President Hu invites KMT head to visit

BEIJING, April 1 (UPI) -- The director of the Chinese Communist Party in charge of Taiwan matters confirmed president Hu Jintao invited KMT head Lien Chan to visit the mainland.

The remark was made by Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Thursday in an interview with Xinhua.

Chen said the March 28-April KMT delegation visit led by KMT Vice-President Chiang Pin-kung had been a success and "will cast positive impacts on the promotion of cross-Straits economic exchanges and cooperation and the peaceful, steady development of the cross-Straits relations."

He confirmed that Hu Jintao, in his capacity as party general secretary, had officially invited KMT President Lien Chan to visit the mainland at a proper time since Lien has expressed the desire to make the trip.

The official added that the mainland welcomes the visit of all party leaders from Taiwan including leaders of the Democratic Progressive Party, on condition that they agree with the 1992 Consensus, oppose Taiwan independence, and advocate the development of the cross-Straits relations.