Cross-Strait leaders Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou met today (November 7) in Singapore. This exciting news soon has spread all over the world. The “Xi-Ma Meeting” will be included in the annals of the Chinese nation, and a milestone for cross-Straits relations.

We overseas Chinese in the United States warmly congratulate on it.

This is the first meeting of the cross-Straits leaders since 1949, which creates the first direct talks between the leaders on both sides. The separation of Taiwan from Chinese mainland for 66 years has brought great pain to people on both sides of Taiwan Straits.

To make it worse, it also allowed a chance to Taiwan independence. People on both sides are eager to get along with each other, to realize peaceful reunification, and strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

During the 30 years after the opening up of China, many policies have been proposed and implemented to ease cross-Straits relations. Preferential measures have been adopted particularly for Taiwan, the cross-Straits relations have gotten continuous improvement.

Especially since the Kuomintang’s returning to power in 2008, they realized the three direct links and the cross-Straits relations reached comprehensive restoration and development.

The KMT-CPC exchanges have become more frequent. Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) sign new agreement each year.

Yet, Taiwan independence forces have been continuously obstructed and harassed. But as Taiwan leader, Ma Ying-jeou deserves credit for adhering to the “92 consensus” to preserve cross-Straits relations.

The “Xi-Ma Meeting” is an inevitable trend. Ma Ying-jeou’s historical position on the cross-Straits relations stands to reason.

The 2016 Taiwan election comes soon. KMT candidate Eric Liluan Chu is in a tight situation, and Tsai Ing-wen of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) performs aggressively. To maintain the position of the ruling party for the KMT, joining hands with Chinese mainland to fight against Taiwan independence forces is the only way out.

This is the strength of the KMT and weakness of DPP. Only when the KMT plays its strengths, and get more outstanding achievements can it win the hearts of people. The more we develop cross-Straits relations, the better development the KMT will get and the more isolated and unpopular Taiwan independence forces will be.

The Xi-Ma meeting is a long expected occasion for people on both sides after a long delay due to various factors. The meeting is of great significance for the long-term goal of peaceful reunification between the two sides.

It also has a positive effect on the upcoming Taiwan election. Hopefully, the KMT can turn the tables.

In history, there were two times of KMT-CPC cooperation and both won a great victory.

First was from 1924 to 1927 when the KMT-CPC cooperation resulted in a Northern Expedition victory; the second time was to establish the United Front to fight against Japanese aggression. They defeated Japan militarism and achieved complete victory for the first time in modern history.

Under the new situation, both the KMT and CPC are encountering harm to national unity on account of Taiwan independence forces. The two parties must oppose that.

We overseas Chinese hope to see the third time of KMT-CPC cooperation to build up a more extensive United Front, work together for an earlier realization of China’s peaceful reunification.

By Wu Youyi, Director, W. America Chinese Peaceful Unification from San Francisco, the United States of America

(The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com.)