Taipei, July 23 (CNA) The ruling Kuomintang's (KMT's) presidential candidate, Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), started her campaign by making a trip to her hometown in Taichung Thursday as the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP's) rival Tsai Ing-wen also launched a grassroots campaign in the city.

During an interview with a Taichung radio talk show host, Hung said that Taiwan and China have signed 21 agreements based on the 1992 consensus but the benefits from signing the pacts have not been fairly shared by the general public.

The consensus is seen by the KMT as a tacit understanding reached in 1992 in Hong Kong between Taipei and Beijing on how to characterize relations between the two sides -- that there is only one China, with each side free to interpret what "one China" means.

Hung said that if she is elected, she will seek to sign a peace agreement with China under the prerequisite of taking the interests of the people into account and based on the Republic of China (ROC) Constitution.

The presidential hopeful said she wants to sign such a peace pact in the hope that mainland China will allow Taiwan more opportunities to participate in international organizations and regional economic integration.

In the face of China's rise, Taiwan should also sign an agreement with China on a mechanism of building military mutual trust across the Taiwan Strait, Hung said.

Only with the mandate of the people, will she be able to negotiate with the other side of the strait on signing these deals, Hung said, adding that this is of great importance to the development of the nation and the future of Taiwan.

She also said that since Taiwan is pursuing a path to peace, stability and openness, it has to increase engagements with China before reaching out to the world.

Hung also vowed to create more jobs and build a society of equal distribution of wealth and resources.

Meanwhile, Tsai attended a forum of representatives from the arts and cultural community in Taichung, saying that the process of industrialization in Taiwan has entered a turning point and the country should attach greater importance to the arts and cultural industries in the next phase of economic development.

(By Claudia Liu and Evelyn Kao)
Enditem/ke