'One China' principle is key to further talks with Taipei, Xi tells KMT's Lien
Beijing signals openness to more dialogue with Taipei - but only if they adhere to the principle
Communist Party chief Xi Jinping yesterday told honorary Kuomintang chairman Lien Chan that the mainland would respect Taiwan's choices so long as both sides negotiate under the "one China" principle.
"We respect Taiwan people's choices of their social system and lifestyle," Xi told Lien at their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse yesterday. But he also warned that cross-strait ties would be affected if both sides were not willing to adhere to the "one China" principle under the so-called 1992 consensus.
"If this foundation is damaged, cross-strait ties will return to the old unstable path," he said, calling for political dialogue between the two sides.
"We are willing to carry out negotiations with Taiwan on equal footing under the 'one China' principle and make reasonable arrangements," he said.
Lien told Xi that Taiwan would adhere to the 1992 consensus and that it understood cross-strait relations were not an international issue, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported.