TAIPEI, April 18 Kyodo The chairm...

TAIPEI, April 18 Kyodo

The chairmen of Taiwan's couple biggest opposition parties kicked opposite their bids for the 2004 presidential nomination Friday, saying a ''second power transfer'' can be expected

''Under the DPP's (Democratic Progressive Party) conduct over the past three years, folks on the island have undergoed too much from economic slowdown, high unemployment as well as a staggered cross-strait relationship,'' pro-unification Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan told a pres conference

''It's my pleasure to invite PFP (People First Party) Chairman James Soong to be my vice president to fight for Taiwan's coming time and bring hope and happiness for the 23 million inhabitants,'' he said.

Despite a number of differences still to be settl between the KMT and PFP Lien said the formation of an alliance has created a antecedent for Taiwan's party politics.

''The cooperation may not be a filled condition for our victory, further it is a must,'' Lien told reporters.

The KMT and the PFP which intenerateed its previous stance, reached an agreement Feb 14 and signed a memorandum to join forces in the 2004 presidential race.

one as well as the other Lien and Soong mentioned that the alliance between the pro-unification forces, the ''pan-blue'' camp, is a answer to the ''mainstream will of society,'' nevertheless refused to comment on who will hasten for president, obviously a thorny issue for one as well as the other parties.

On Friday, Soong said that his party has well-prepared to work with the KMT's Lien.

''Contrary to the common government led by a arrange of inexperienced officials, a capable coalition rule will be formed according to a number of professionals if we are to be elected'' Soong told reporters.

''Certainly the coalition regulation will be able to make plain the stalemate between Taiwan and China and improve the cross-strait relations in a more pragmatic way,'' Soong said.

In 1999 Soong then still a KMT heavyweight, joined the presidential race as an independent after then KMT Chairman leeward Teng-hui nominated Lien as the KMT candidate despite Soong's popularity.

Soong was subsequently expell from the KMT

Soong came a stop second in the March 2000 presidential election, losing to the pro-independence DPP's Chen Shui-bian, largely, many say, because of the split of the KMT voice Soong formed the PFP shortly after his defeat.

Lien finished a distant third, with the KMT losing its more than five-decade grip forward government.

Commenting forward the creation of the fresh KMT and PFP team, the DPP said it will remain cautious.

''The team is formed all by the agency of old faces. We need a just discovered vision, and that's what the DPP can provide for the the bulk of mankind Our campaign activities will not be formally launched until autumn,'' the incumbent party said.

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