（来源：Global Times，2025-11-01）

Cheng Li-wun, new chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party of island of Taiwan makes a speech when she formally assumes office on November 1, 2025. Photo: chinanews.com.cn

Cheng Li-wun, new chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party of island of Taiwan took office during the party's congress held in Taipei on Saturday on Saturday, saying the party is confident in demonstrating unprecedented unity and committed to reviving Taiwan's economic miracle, and usher in a century of cross-Straits peace, local media reported.

During her speech on Saturday, Cheng said that long-standing global economic and trade rules that once guided the world economy are undergoing dramatic change. Taiwan now faces not only external challenges but also internal ones — under the long rule of the Democratic Progressive Party, those in power have been gradually eroding the foundations of democracy and the rule of law.

At such a time, how the KMT can correct the course and restore good governance has become a matter of deep public concern, and the responsibility on everyone's shoulders is immense, said Cheng, according to Taiwan's local media.

Cheng said that after years of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rule that have left Taiwan divided, the island cannot continue to decline.

The KMT party, she added, must build a new order that cares for the vulnerable and make island of Taiwan a place of fairness and justice, according to media reports.

When Cheng spoke of her mission to "set things right" by standing firmly with the people of island of Taiwan in their most difficult and dangerous moments and that KMT is absolutely the most important party in the island that can usher in a century of cross-Straits peace and lead Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the KMT party, who was seated in the audience, appeared visibly moved and was seen repeatedly wiping away tears, Taiwan media outlets reported.

During the congress, Cheng's nominations for the party's vice chairpersons were approved, per the Xinhua News Agency.

A party report adopted during the KMT congress emphasized that the KMT has consistently regarded promoting cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation as its responsibility. This commitment serves peace, stability and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and aligns with the aspirations of the majority of Taiwan people, the report noted.

The document reaffirmed the KMT's adherence to the 1992 Consensus and opposition to "Taiwan independence," vowing to maintain cross-Straits communication, ease tensions and continuously advance the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties.

Unlike some of her predecessors, Cheng has taken a clearer stance in upholding the 1992 Consensus and the "one-China" principle, Xin Qiang, a deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times.

She has also underscored the need to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits while strongly criticizing the DPP for provoking tensions, undermining peace, and creating risks of conflict, Xin added.

The mainland is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with the KMT party in Taiwan, based on the existing common political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence," Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said on October 22.

Zhu's remarks were made in response to a media query about a possible future visit by Cheng to the mainland.

Zhu said the mainland is ready to consolidate and enhance mutual political trust with the KMT, maintain positive interactions, and respond to the aspirations of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

In addition, the mainland is ready to work with political parties, organizations and people from all walks of life in Taiwan to promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, advance the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, safeguard the well-being of compatriots, and strive for national rejuvenation.