The Chinese mainland will unite with Taiwan compatriots in firm
opposition to all forms of secessionist activities, such as calls
for "Taiwan independence" through legislation, said Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao on Monday.
"We will remain committed to the basic principle of peaceful
reunification and 'one country, two systems' and vigorously expand
exchanges and cooperation between the two sides," said Wen while
delivering a cabinet work report to the just-opened annual
parliamentary session.
The mainland will continue to step up dialogue and exchanges on
the basis of one-China principle with all political parties in
Taiwan that advocate the development of cross-strait relations,
said the premier at the full session of the National People's
Congress (NPC).
Wen also called for the direct links for postal, air and
shipping services and trade. Indirect trade volume between the
mainland and Taiwan hit a record US$107.8 billion last year,
official figures showed.
At a panel discussion of the annual session of the Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National
Committee on March 4, 2005, President Hu Jintao put forward a
four-point guideline on the Taiwan issue.
Hu stressed "four nevers": the mainland will "never sway in
adhering to the one-China principle, never give up efforts to seek
peaceful reunification, never change the principle of placing hope
on the Taiwan people, never compromise in opposing 'Taiwan
Independence'."
Relations across the Taiwan Strait will face severe challenges
this year, as the Taiwan authorities' efforts to seek "de jure
independence" through the so-called "constitutional reform" might
enter a "substantive" stage, Jiang Enzhu, spokesman for the NPC
session, said earlier at a press conference.
A series of "de-sinicizing" moves recently adopted by the Taiwan
authorities in an apparent push for secession showed strains on the
relations between the mainland and Taiwan were lurking around,
Jiang said.
The election of Taiwan's "Legislative Yuan" at the end of this
year and the Taiwan leader election in 2008 are expected to bring
changes to the political arena on the island.
Statistics showed Taiwan residents made more than 4.4 million
visits to the mainland and mainlanders' visits to Taiwan were more
than 200,000 in 2006.
(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2007)