国内英语新闻:Hu's talk to Taiwan business people delivers goodwill, say media, scholars

TAIPEI, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Hu Jintao's talk to Taiwan business people during his Spring Festival visit in Fujian Province delivered goodwill to Taiwan, media and scholars on the island said.

Leading newspapers in Taiwan including the China Times and the United Daily News followed the developments of Hu's four-day inspection tour in Fujian, which faces Taiwan.

Hu ended his tour on Feb. 15 after visiting Zhangzhou, Longyan and Xiamen and celebrated the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, with local residents and Taiwan compatriots living in Fujian.

Hu told Taiwan business people the mainland would try its best in everything that would benefit Taiwan compatriots, and "we will honor our words."

Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd L), who is also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), talks with a businessman (1st L) from China's Taiwan Province, at the Zhangpu Pioneer Park of Taiwan farmers in Zhangzhou, east China's Fujian Province, Feb. 12, 2010

He also said the negotiation on the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement between the mainland and Taiwan would "put into full consideration the interests of Taiwan compatriots, especially those of farmers."

The China Times carried a commentary saying the message conveyed in Hu's speech to Taiwan business people was worth careful reading by Taiwan authorities.

The online edition of the Central Daily News also released a commentary headlined "Hu Jintao celebrates Spring Festival in Fujian, delivers goodwill to Taiwan people."

Hsu Wun-Pin, a renowned lawyer in Taiwan, said Hu's visit highlighted the role of culture and kinship in cross-Strait relations.

Hsu's ancestors lived in Tong'an, now a district of the coastal city of Xiamen.

Tamkang University prof. Chang Wu-yueh said Hu's choice of visiting Taiwan businessmen in cities that saw thriving cross-Strait exchanges during the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation clearly displayed the mainland's high expectations of cross-Strait relations.