The visit of Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party Chairman Lien Chan to China's mainland was "good news for all Chinese," Hunter Huang, president of the Washington-based National Association for China's Unification, said on Friday.

The formal meeting between Lien and Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in Beijing on Friday was the first between the two parties in 60 years, opening a new chapter in relations across the Taiwan Straits, he said.

Huang called on all overseas Chinese to get united to jointly promote the eventual reunification of China.

Xiaohui He, vice president of the association, said Chinese Americans in Washington have followed closely Lien's visit to China's mainland, which she said has broken a stalemate in relations across the Taiwan Straits.

Kam Yu, president of the newly-established Promotion of the Unification of China, the Metro Washington Chapter, Inc., described Lien's visit to the mainland as "the best thing" for all Chinese. The two sides of the Taiwan Straits are of "the same family" and should discuss matters between them in a friendly manner, he added.

Jing Gong, honorary president of the Coordination Council of Chinese Americans' Associations in the Washington area, said he has paid close attention to Lien's visit to the mainland during the past few days.

In his speeches, Gong noted, Lien expressed his opposition against "Taiwan independence." Lien emphasized that he is Chinese, which is very important, as this is the starting point for contacts between the two sides of the Straits, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2005)