A speech delivered Wednesday by visiting Chairman James C. Y. Soong of the People First Party (PFP) was well received by both the students and teachers at Tsinghua University.

Peng Zhiguo, a doctorate student in the School of Public Policy and Management under Tsinghua University, said the speech "gives the young people on the mainland better and more understanding of the Taiwan people. We are willing to join our efforts with the people in Taiwan to greet a bright future for the Chinese people."

Ren Huaixiang, one of about 100 Taiwan students studying at Tsinghua, said that the mainland visits by Lien Chan, Chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party and Soong serve as "a turning point" in the relations across the Taiwan Straits.

"He has expressed the aspirations of all Taiwan students," said Fang Benru, a Taiwan student in Tsinghua's School of Journalism and Communications. "This can help the mainland people have a better knowledge of what's in our mind."

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2005)