BEIJING, April 16 -- Relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan witnessed "positive" developments over the past year, Lien Chan, visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Honorary 

Honorary Chairman of the Chinese  Kuomintang (KMT) Lien Chan  speaks during a press conference  following the Cross-Strait Economic  and Trade Forum in Beijing, capital  of China, April 16, 2006.   (Photo: Xinhua)

"Good and positive developments have taken place in cross-Strait relations since April last year," Lien confirmed at a press conference on a two-day cross-Strait economic and trade forum that closed on Saturday, recalling his "ice-breaking" visit to the mainland and first-ever meeting with Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

In a press communique issued after the Hu-Lien meeting in late April last year, both parties decided to work jointly in five aspects, including promoting an earlier resumption of cross-Straits talks on the basis of the "1992 consensus," the formal end of the state of hostility across the Taiwan Strait, all-round economic cooperation and trade across the Strait, the discussion of Taiwan's participation in international activities after cross-Strait talks are resumed, and the establishment of a platform for regular exchanges between the two parties.

When asked to comment on developments since last year's meeting, Lien cited new progress in the economic sector over the past year, including the expanded chartered flight service during the traditional Chinese Spring Festival, the export of Taiwan's agricultural products to the mainland market, the establishment of a mechanism to solve problems for Taiwan businessmen operating on the mainland, and efforts for standardization between the information technology sectors on the two sides.

The honorary KMT chairman also noted the favorable policies offered by the mainland for Taiwan students to pay the same tuition fees as their mainland peers in mainland-based universities, and the 30-billion-yuan (about 3.9 billion U.S. dollars) credit loans for businessmen from Taiwan in coming years.

Lien called for more joint efforts to promote cross-Strait peace and security, and Taiwan's participation in international affairs.

The press conference came after Lien and Hu held talks Sunday morning, their second meeting in a year.

Lien arrived here Thursday leading a KMT delegation to attend the two-day cross-Straits economic and trade forum, at which the mainland announced a new package of policies to promote cross-Strait economic and trade relations, and the participants also passed joint proposals for closer economic and trade ties across the Taiwan Strait.

"The two-day forum is an important activity for the two parties to continue exchanges and dialog," Hu said while meeting with Lien Sunday morning.