KMT Party Chairwoman pays tribute to Sun Yat-sen in Nanjing

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The leader of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) Party, Hung Hsiu-chu, paid tribute to Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the party, at his mausoleum in Nanjing on Monday.

During her visit, Hung highlighted Sun’s historic achievements and called on cooperation of Chinese mainland and Taiwan to promote peace and development.

"I think the great achievements of Mr. Sun Yat-sen are highly praised by both sides. I believe we will be able to rejuvenate our nation and improve the livelihood of our people under his spirit. We surely can go hand in hand to create prosperity in the future," said Hong at the mausoleum.

The deep historical significance, magnificent architecture and beautiful scenery make Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum a place of pilgrimage for Chinese people. Over the decades, many state leaders and political figures have visited the site.

One notable visit was in 2005, when Taiwan's Kuomintang leader Lien Chan paid a historic visit to the mainland. His first stop of a four-city tour was also in Nanjing, where he paid tribute to the first leader of his party. That visit was the first by an incumbent Kuomintang chief in 56 years.

The then Taiwan's Kuomintang leader Lien Chan visits the Mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen in Nanjing in April 2005.

“The upcoming meeting between the leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the KMT will be significant for safeguarding the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations,” said An Fengshan, spokesperson for the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office, ahead of Hung’s visit.

Under the current situation, interaction between the two parties and efforts to consolidate common political ground will have a positive impact on keeping peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, An said.

After Hung’s visit in Nanjing, she will meet with CPC leader Xi Jinping on Tuesday in Beijing, and attend the Cross-Strait Peace and Development Forum on Wednesday.

It is the first time Hung has traveled to the mainland since becoming head of the KMT on March 30. It also marks the first visit by a KMT leader since the party lost leadership as a ruling party in the January elections.

Before leaving Taiwan, Hung called her visit "a trip of peace", and said she will seek to maintain of temperature of cross-strait civil exchanges.