TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) pledged that any future dialogue with China, including the resumption of a forum with the Chinese Communist Party in January and a possible meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, would not be conducted in secret.
Cheng made the remarks to reporters on Saturday afternoon at the KMT Taichung City Party Headquarters. She responded to media speculation about the possible resumption of a long-suspended KMT-Chinese Communist Party forum, per CNA.
An online report published Friday by Meihua Media, citing anonymous sources, said planning is underway to resume the Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum, commonly known as the KMT-CCP Forum, from Jan. 27-29 in Beijing. The forum has been suspended for nine years.
Cheng declined to confirm specific details about the forum or any potential meeting with Xi but said that if there were clear conclusions or confirmed activities, including a widely anticipated “Cheng-Xi meeting,” they would be disclosed to the public without delay.
KMT Vice Chair Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) is expected to lead a party delegation to Beijing, according to the Meihua Media report.
Cheng said that since taking office, she has felt that cross-strait exchanges and communication have been “very smooth” and that she has sensed sincerity and goodwill from China. She said she hopes to actively promote cross-strait dialogue and cooperation.
She added that communication between the two sides has covered a range of shared concerns, including carbon reduction, climate change, energy conservation, disaster prevention, low birth rates, aging populations, and the application of artificial intelligence.
Cheng said she hopes to further open dialogue on energy issues as well as expand exchanges among youth and women. She said that goodwill and cooperation on key issues could allow both sides to jointly propose solutions to pressing challenges.
She also said the KMT hopes to assist Taiwanese businesses facing difficulties operating in China due to reduced cross-strait exchanges and the lack of expedited “green channels” for selling products in the Chinese market. Cheng said the party is willing to speak on behalf of affected businesses and push for improved treatment.
