Seminars on significance of historic meeting between leaders of two sides of Taiwan Strait held on both sides

SHIJIAZHUANG/TAIPEI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Seminars were on Friday held on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to highlight the significance of the historic meeting between the leaders of the two sides in 2015.

Held in Singapore on Nov. 7, 2015, the meeting between Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou was the first meeting between leaders of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait since 1949.

At a seminar in Xiong'an, Hebei Province, scholars from both sides of the Strait hailed the meeting as a milestone in the history of cross-Strait relations, noting that its political wisdom and valuable experience continue to offer important guidance on advancing the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and promoting national reunification.

Speaking at the event, which was co-sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Taiwan Studies, institute head Zhu Weidong said that the meeting had reaffirmed the 1992 Consensus -- which embodies the one-China principle -- as the shared political foundation of both sides.

The meeting demonstrated that as long as both sides adhere to the 1992 Consensus, cross-Strait relations will enjoy peace and prosperity, while any deviation from the Consensus will lead to turbulence and setbacks, Zhu said.

He noted that in the current complex and challenging circumstances in the Taiwan Strait, both sides -- particularly the Taiwan side -- should fully recognize and cherish the 1992 Consensus as the anchor of peace and the key to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

Chi Chia-lin, a Taiwan history researcher, said the meeting was a landmark event showing how the 1992 Consensus had helped both sides build political mutual trust after decades of confrontation, adding that it had created a successful model of positive cross-Strait interaction.

Addressing a seminar held on Friday in Taipei to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the historic 2015 meeting, Cheng Li-wun, chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, said that the facts have proved that the 1992 Consensus can ease cross-Strait tensions and facilitate peaceful exchanges, citing the frequency of cross-Strait exchanges between 2008 and 2016 based on the 1992 Consensus.

The KMT party will continue advancing on the correct path to serve as an active, crucial peacemaker, Cheng said at the event, which was co-hosted by the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation.

Cheng stressed that it is only in a peaceful cross-Strait environment that Taiwan's development prospects can expand and its economy and trade can flourish. And it is only through cross-Strait exchange that Taiwan can embrace a brighter future, she said, warning that erroneous cross-Strait policies would place Taiwan in the most disadvantageous position. Enditem