Lien Chan

Lien Chan (连战) is the Honorary Chairman of Kuomintang and also chairman of a foundation on cross-Strait peaceful development.

Lien made his first breakthrough visit to the mainland in April, 2005. His meeting with then CPC leader Hu Jintao was the highest level exchange across the straits in 6 decades.

They reached a 5-point consensus, reaffirming that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to the same "China," and that the two sides would work together to oppose "Taiwan independence."

In October 2005, Lien made his second visit to the mainland, touring the city of Shenyang, the capital of northeast Liaoning Province.

In April 2006, Lien visited Beijing to attend the first Cross-Straits Economic Trade and Culture Forum. He met again with Hu Jintao at the forum, where both underscored the peaceful development of relations between the two sides.

In April 2010, Lien visited Shanghai to attend the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo.

In February 2013, Lien visited Beijing to meet with Xi Jinping, who had just been elected as new CPC leader. Lien pronounced a new "16-character principle" for cross-straits relations, which re-affirmed that there is only one China, maintain cross-straits peace, create mutually beneficial integration and contribute to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

On February 18, 2014, Lien and 80 delegates from various sectors in Taiwan including businessman and politicians visited Beijing to meet with Xi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.