KMT leader: Mutual respect, more cooperation for shared benefits

In a significant statement amid ongoing cross-Strait exchanges, Cheng Li-wun, the chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, has articulated a vision of constructive engagement between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, emphasizing that mutual appreciation, respect, and reciprocal learning can lay a solid foundation for expanded collaboration and shared progress in the coming years.

The remarks come at a time of renewed diplomatic and people-to-people exchange efforts across the Taiwan Strait, following a recent meeting between Cheng and Chinese leadership in Beijing that highlighted shared cultural and historical ties between the two sides. Cheng’s call aligns with broader efforts to strengthen cross-Strait economic, cultural, and social cooperation, with a focus on delivering tangible benefits to communities on both sides of the strait. By centering the principle of mutual respect as the starting point for all cross-Strait interaction, the KMT leadership has signaled its commitment to opening new channels of dialogue and addressing shared challenges through collaborative action, rather than confrontation. Observers note that this framing of cross-Strait relations reinforces the long-standing consensus that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, and that expanding practical cooperation can create win-win outcomes that support the well-being of people across the region.