Mainland university confers honorary doctorate on Kuomintang chairman

Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (R) receives a certificate of honorary doctorate degree from Chen Jun, president of Nanjing University, in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, May 31, 2009. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

NANJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung, who is on an eight-day mainland tour, received an honorary doctorate from Nanjing University on Sunday.

The university said the degree was awarded to Wu in recognition of his "scholarly attainment" as well as the "wisdom and courage he's demonstrated in promoting the solidarity of the Chinese nation and the cross-Straits prosperity".

Wu said the honor was not for him alone, but for all people from both sides of the Taiwan Straits who share the belief that the two sides belong to the same Chinese nation and who aspire for common peaceful development.

Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (R) receives a certificate of honorary doctorate degree from Chen Jun, president of Nanjing University, in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, May 31, 2009. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

He said the two sides should continue to shelve disputes and seek common ground to jointly propel the peaceful progress of their relations.

People from the two sides share the same bloodline and culture, which help bind them together, he said.

During his stay in Nanjing, Wu is also scheduled to visit the mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Kuomintang Party and the forerunner of the anti-feudalism revolution in China, and participate in activities commemorating the 80th anniversary of the official burial of Dr. Sun in Nanjing.

Nanjing was the last leg of Wu's mainland visit, which had taken him to Beijing, Chongqing and Hangzhou cities previously. He will leave for Taiwan on Monday.

Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung delivers a speech after receiving a certificate of honorary doctorate degree at Nanjing University in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, May 31, 2009. (Xinhua/Han Yuqing)

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