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Hu urges peaceful approach to resolving cross-Strait issues

Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily | January 1, 2009, Thursday | Print Edition

PRESIDENT Hu Jintao yesterday urged a peaceful resolution to issues involving the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Hu also said that the mainland is willing to discuss "reasonable arrangements" for Taiwan's participation in international organizations, as long as it does not create a scenario of "two Chinas" or "one China and one Taiwan."

Although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have been split since a civil war in 1949, the political confrontation between them does not change the fact that they belong to one China, Hu said during a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of a message from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan calling for reunification by peaceful means.

The mainland and Taiwan should step up political talks and increase military exchanges to ease cross-Strait tension and reduce worries about security, Hu said.

He said both sides can talk about a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement to establish a collaboration mechanism "with special cross-Strait characteristics" that would be beneficial to both sides.

Hu said he hoped Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party understands the situation and stops any secessionist activities. "If the party could abandon its 'Taiwan independence' stance, we would make a positive response to them," he said.

Hu said all those who have advocated secessionist activities are welcome to return to the "right direction of peaceful reunification."

"We continue to welcome and support Taiwan companies' business on the mainland and encourage mainland enterprises to invest in Taiwan," he said. "We expect to normalize economic relations across the Strait and establish an economic cooperation mechanism."

The president also stressed the common cultural heritage shared by people living on the mainland and the island, saying that all Chinese should promote China's traditional civilization with strengthened spiritual ties.

Yesterday's ceremony, commemorating the mainland's major policy change toward Taiwan, was presided over by China's top legislator Wu Bangguo.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's legislature, issued its "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan" on January 1, 1979.

In the statement, the mainland first proposed to end the military confrontation across the Taiwan Strait through dialog and welcomed exchanges between the two sides.


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