A Remarkable Letter -- One China May Not Be Just A Dream

Kuomintang conveys condolence to SW China quake victims

"This letter, directed from the Kuomintang, to the Central Committee is a bright note in a great tragedy. Perhaps more than anything else it shows that Taiwan and mainland China are finally shedding the past. Thrity years ago, in the last great Chinese earthquake, direct contacts like this would have been inconceivable.

jcm"

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Central Committee of Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party of China, sent a letter to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to express condolence for the quake-hit areas in southwest China.

The letters reads: "We heard about the devastating earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan Province and the loss of lives and properties. We would like to convey our concern and condolence to the disaster-hit areas. If it is needed, we would urge Taiwan to send disaster-relief staffs to those areas. We pray that people in those areas could be strong and conquer all the difficulties."

The death toll from the earthquake has climbed to 9,219, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said here Tuesday morning.