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LEAD: China's Hu, Taiwan's Lien agree to strengthen ties+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)BEIJING, April 16_(Kyodo) _ (EDS: RECASTING WITH FRESH INFO) Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday held talks with Lien Chan, honorary chairman of Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist Party (KMT), in Beijing, with both men agreeing on the view to strengthen cross-strait ties. At the meeting, Hu, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, said that adhering to the "1992 consensus" is the vital foundation for peace and development across the Taiwan Strait, according to China's official Xinhua News Agency. The so-called "1992 consensus" refers to a meeting held in Hong Kong in 1992 at which Beijing and Taipei agreed to maintain their own interpretations of the "one China" principle. Hu said that though China is not reunified yet, the fact that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China has not changed. Lien, whose visit last year marked the first contact in 60 years between leaders of the Chinese Communist Party and the KMT, said Taiwan and China have managed to create a foundation to develop their economic ties over the past year. "Without peace, there can be no prosperity," he said. The meeting, held at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, was the second between the two in as many years. Hu and Lien shook hands in front of reporters as they did during Lien's landmark visit last April. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. Beijing has refused to deal with Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party since he took office in 2000, instead deepening ties with opposition forces favoring reconciliation with China. During his stay in Beijing, Lien, who is heading a 100-strong delegation, also attended a two-day government forum on cross-strait business. At Saturday's closing of the forum, China announced a set of measures aimed at increasing agricultural and other trade with Taiwan, such as tax-free imports of some Taiwanese vegetable products. |