BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao met with Wu Poh-Hsiung, honorary chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party, in Beijing Monday.

Wu was visiting the Chinese mainland to attend the sixth Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum, which closed Sunday in the southern city of Guangzhou.

Hu said the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) signed last month was an important achievement in the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait and a sign that economic and trade ties have entered a new stage.

Hu said the ECFA was in line with interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation.

He expressed his hope that the agreement could take effect as soon as possible, so that it could bring substantial benefits to people on both sides.

The ECFA, which is aimed at establishing a systematic mechanism for enhancing cross-Strait economic cooperation, was signed by negotiators from the mainland and Taiwan on June 30.

The agreement will formally take effect a day after both sides complete due procedures and notify each other.