Hung Hsiu-chu, chairperson of the Taiwan-basedKuomintang (KMT) party, said that peace and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait are goals that must be pursued in the current stage.

Hung made the remarkson Sunday when addressing the ongoing 9th Straits Forum held in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province.

Hung said that shecould feel the vitality and enthusiasm for people-to-people exchanges in theforum.

"Chinese cultureis our root," said Hung, calling for bearing in mind the ideal of there juvenation of the Chinese nation and pray for its forever prosperity.