NANJING, April 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Li Yuanchao, secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC),met and hosted a banquet for Kuomintang (KMT) Party Chairman Lien Chan and his delegation from Taiwan in this provincial capital Tuesday.

During the meeting, Li welcomed Lien and the KMT delegation to Nanjing, saying that Lien's visit was of great significance to promoting cross-Straits economic, political and cultural exchanges,pushing forward a healthy development of cross-Straits relations, safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, as well as to "checking the secessionist schemes" of "Taiwan independence" forces.

Speaking highly of Taiwan business people's contribution to Jiangsu's social and economic development, Li said Jiangsu was oneof the mainland regions that had developed the closest relationship with Taiwan, adding that the provincial capital Nanjing also had "a special connection" with the KMT.

Nanjing was China's national capital when China was under the rule of the KMT from the 1920s to 1940s, and also home to the mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, founder of the KMT Party.

Lien, who and his 60-member delegation arrived in Nanjing Tuesday afternoon on the first leg of their eight-day historic mainland tour, said the KMT party had long followed Dr. Sun's instructions of working for public welfare, philanthropy and saving the nation. It had especially upheld the requirements of "peace, endeavor and saving China" written by Sun on his deathbed in 1925, to help find a way-out for the people and take a responsible attitude toward history.

Lien said that the mainland and Taiwan should not be separated by geographical distance or isolated by mountains and rivers.

"How to promote the establishment of mutually beneficial and peaceful cross-Straits relations for a win-win situation is something we are all concerned about and a goal we all hope to be attained at an early date," said Lien.

"If we can push for the realization of this goal with reason, mutual confidence and respect, and perseverance as well, we will sure be able to bring stability, prosperity and hope to people across the Straits," he said.

Lien and his delegation have come at the invitation of the CPC Central Committee and its General Secretary Hu Jintao. They are scheduled to visit Dr. Sun's mausoleum on Wednesday morning.