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New Year's hope for close Strait ties
Source: Xinhua |
January 24, 2009, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A SENIOR Chinese mainland official on Taiwan affairs called for closer cross-Strait ties yesterday in his Lunar New Year greetings to people on the island.
"We sincerely hope the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can improve well-meaning communication, continue to achieve consensus and keep the momentum of positive interaction to improve cross-Strait ties," Wang Yi, director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said.
Cross-Strait relations started to ease last year. Last June, the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait and the island's Strait Exchange Foundation resumed talks, which had been suspended for almost 10 years. The second round of talks was held in Taiwan in November.
On December 15, the mainland and Taiwan started direct air and sea transport and postal services, ending a 59-year ban on such links.
On December 31, the mainland held a ceremony to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the mainland's "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan," at which President Hu Jintao offered six proposals to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, including the proposal that the two sides end hostility and reach peaceful agreements under the One-China principle.
Hu also said the mainland is willing to discuss with Taiwan proper and reasonable arrangements for Taiwan's participation in international organizations, as long as this does not create a scenario of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan."
Wang said Hu's speech pointed out the direction for the development of cross-Strait relationships and showed the mainland's determination and sincerity to work for the benefit of compatriots across the Strait, regional peace and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
He said 2008 was a milestone in cross-Strait relations. "During that year, the situation in Taiwan showed positive changes. Clouds over the Strait cleared, and after gloom comes brightness."
The two sides grasped the "hard-won" opportunities and pushed for the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, he said.
"We know that the road ahead is not smooth," Wang said. "But we believe Chinese people on both sides of the Strait have the wisdom and ability to have the future of cross-Strait relations in (our) own hands."
"We sincerely hope the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can improve well-meaning communication, continue to achieve consensus and keep the momentum of positive interaction to improve cross-Strait ties," Wang Yi, director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said.
Cross-Strait relations started to ease last year. Last June, the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait and the island's Strait Exchange Foundation resumed talks, which had been suspended for almost 10 years. The second round of talks was held in Taiwan in November.
On December 15, the mainland and Taiwan started direct air and sea transport and postal services, ending a 59-year ban on such links.
On December 31, the mainland held a ceremony to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the mainland's "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan," at which President Hu Jintao offered six proposals to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, including the proposal that the two sides end hostility and reach peaceful agreements under the One-China principle.
Hu also said the mainland is willing to discuss with Taiwan proper and reasonable arrangements for Taiwan's participation in international organizations, as long as this does not create a scenario of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan."
Wang said Hu's speech pointed out the direction for the development of cross-Strait relationships and showed the mainland's determination and sincerity to work for the benefit of compatriots across the Strait, regional peace and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
He said 2008 was a milestone in cross-Strait relations. "During that year, the situation in Taiwan showed positive changes. Clouds over the Strait cleared, and after gloom comes brightness."
The two sides grasped the "hard-won" opportunities and pushed for the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, he said.
"We know that the road ahead is not smooth," Wang said. "But we believe Chinese people on both sides of the Strait have the wisdom and ability to have the future of cross-Strait relations in (our) own hands."
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