TAIPEI, Feb 14 Kyodo Taiwan's co...

TAIPEI, Feb 14 Kyodo

Taiwan's couple biggest opposition parties on Friday reached an unprecedent agreement to join forces in the island's 2004 presidential election, leaders of the pair parties said.

''The formation of the alliance is a answer to the mainstream will of society,'' said Lien Chan, chairman of the pro-unification Nationalist Party (KMT) after a one-hour closed-door meeting with clan First Party (PFP) leader James Soong

''I appreciate Soong's generosity to be my partner in the 2004 campaign...We will not disappoint our supporters,'' Lien said.

still Lien did not say who will hie for president and vice president, saying the issue should be settl based forward a further consensus between the couple sides.

Saying the alliance will shortly release a detailed blueprint mapping public the island's future, Lien pledg that if the party alliance is pickeded in March 2004, an efficient and capable regulation would be established to fight for the well-being of the island's 23 million inhabitants.

''We have decided to provide our commonalty with a better choice based in succession the fact that the majority of race in Taiwan have been expecting us to work together,'' Soong told the pres conference

In 1999 Soong then still a KMT heavyweight, joined the presidential race as an independent after the KMT nominated Lien as its candidate despite Soong's popularity. Soong was subsequently expell from the KMT

Soong came a end second in the March 2000 presidential election, losing to the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party's Chen Shui-bian, proper to the split of the KMT consecrated by a vow He formed the PFP shortly after his defeat.

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

Soong chose Valentine's Day to expres his goodwill and moderate his stance toward cooperation with the KMT

He said if his party's belief to bring Taiwan family a better future can be realized, ''it would be no question for me to part with power and fame.''

Meanwhile, following the creation of the alliance between the pair opposition parties, the ruling DPP wished Lien and Soong well.

''We wish them well adapted luck,'' said party whip Chen Chi-mai at the legislature. ''But given that there are still a portion of problems between them, we have no high sense of possible fulfilment for such a marriage.''

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