Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has held talks with Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung in Beijing.

Wu Poh-hsiung is on his six-day mainland visit, less than a week after former Kuomintang chairman Ma Ying-jeou took office as Taiwan's leader.

China Daily carries a commentary saying that there is every reason to hope for good cross-Straits relations after this meeting.

The paper comments that the meeting provides a platform for both sides to grab the "precious, important opportunity" to advance cross-Straits ties. As the paper says, it was the first meeting between the chiefs of the two parties, and also the highest-level talks across the Straits in six decades.

Both sides have pledged to build mutual trust and work towards peaceful and stable cross-Straits ties.

Although there should be no doubt about political determination from both sides to promote cross-Straits relations, the paper reminds it will take wisdom and time to realize that goal.

The paper says a lack of mutual understanding has prevailed ever since the island's isolation from the mainland in 1949. Also, the secessionist push of the Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, over the past eight years has severely hampered relations and plunged cross-Straits ties to a low point.

The paper suggests Beijing and Taipei first focus on issues affecting people on both sides of the Straits, such as launching weekend charted flights and facilitating the passage of mainland tourists to Taiwan.

It says serving the interests of ordinary people on both sides could help increase bilateral exchanges and cooperation, and therefore create a win-win situation for the two sides.