The All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC) and the Federation of Overseas Chinese Associations (FOCA) in Taiwan have taken recent measures to boost their cooperation, especially on the issue of reuniting Taiwan with the Chinese mainland.

People's Daily Overseas Edition caught Lin Zhaoshu, Chairman of ACFROC and Wu Chen-po, President of FOCA, on the sidelines at a recent forum of overseas Chinese associations from across the Taiwan Strait. The forum was held from July 4-5 in Xiamen, Fujian Province. Here are excerpts from the interviews:

Common Goal: Getting Along with Each Other in Harmony

How do you assess their consensus on the concept of harmony?

Lin: The theme of this forum is "joining hands to create harmonious overseas Chinese associations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait." China has emphasized the ideas of "treasuring harmony," "getting along in harmony," "working together with one accord" and "achieving harmony between all states" since ancient times. Overseas Chinese associations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are organizations committed to serving overseas Chinese. That's why we crave harmony and try to promote it between overseas Chinese and Chinese compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, between overseas Chinese and their associations, and between overseas Chinese and the native people in their host countries.

Wu: This forum aims to encourage overseas Chinese throughout the world to live together in peace. It has expressed the hope that all overseas Chinese love and are willing to help each other. I hope that with the lasting impetus given by this forum, a joint force can be formed, from 500 people to 5,000, 50,000 and 50 million people, from one association to many associations, and from a few regions to the five continents. I believe the footsteps we have left today will still glitter in 30 or 50 years.

Traditional Chinese Culture: The Bond for Maintaining Harmony

In their speeches, all the representatives at the forum stressed the importance of passing down traditional Chinese culture. Why?

Lin: Harmony is not only an important concept in traditional Chinese culture, but also the common social ideal of Chinese people at home and abroad. In order to achieve harmony in overseas Chinese associations, we should carry forward time-honored Chinese culture. We should also work together with the overseas Chinese to popularize the Chinese culture, while enhancing mutual assistance and harmony among them. We should encourage young overseas Chinese to make joint efforts to push for the teaching of the Chinese language in schools, so that the Chinese culture can be passed on from generation to generation.

Wu: The FOCA has long called on teachers, students and parents in overseas Chinese associations to study Chinese culture together, thereby raising the status of Chinese culture across the world. The "pro-independence" policy practiced by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan severely harms overseas Chinese people's efforts to carry forward the Chinese culture. In the past, if 100 copies of Chinese textbooks were needed, 120 copies were actually available. Today, however, only 20 copies are available. The overseas Chinese associations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait can jointly play a great role in promoting Chinese culture. We suggest that the ACFROC introduce new Chinese teaching approaches to the Chinese communities in foreign countries. It also can invite teachers and students from Chinese schools in foreign countries, as well as the students' parents, to visit the mainland to learn about their needs and suggestions.

Common Pursuit: Opposing Taiwan Independence and Promoting Reunification

How does the "Taiwan independence" movement jeopardize development of the overseas Chinese associations across the Taiwan Strait?

Lin: The mounting risk of the "Taiwan independence" movement poses the most severe, most dangerous and most pressing challenge to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. If its secessionist activities are not checked, the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, the harmony of overseas Chinese associations, and the interests and welfare of Chinese compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will be jeopardized. Only if the overseas Chinese and their associations cooperate closely to oppose the "Taiwan independence" movement, can harmony be achieved on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and conditions be created for China's reunification. Wu: We stand firmly against secessionist forces seeking independence for Taiwan. Overseas Chinese are all descendants of the Chinese nation and share the same origin, culture, language and customs. A separated motherland is what they least want to see.

What can the overseas Chinese do to help forge China's reunification?

Wu: I'm motivated to do something for the peaceful reunification of the Chinese nation, and so are all the FOCA members. We will create an atmosphere in foreign countries conducive to China's peaceful reunification. The effort to reunify China should start in overseas Chinese communities. Overseas Chinese are obligated to make their due contributions towards China's reunification. Of course, this cause is not going to be fulfilled overnight. We should first act locally by encouraging overseas Chinese to live together in peace and help each other. I am more than 80 years old, but I still hope to contribute my part towards the reunification of the Chinese nation. I will spare no effort to shape a platform for that endeavor.

Forging Closer Ties

What progress have they made in foreign countries?

Lin: I will never forget the change that took place in Yokohama. The two overseas Chinese federations in the Chinatown of this Japanese city had virtually no contact with each other for a long time. Not long ago, however, when an ACFROC delegation visited, local FOCA officials invited friends from the two federations to dinner. The move was warmly welcomed in the local Chinese community. An ancient Chinese saying goes: "Brothers should not harm one another but live together in a friendly manner. They are a natural alliance to confront bullying." The Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to the same China. A shallow strait is not expected to sever the bond between the compatriots on both sides.

Wu: Starting last year, the ACFROC began to inform the FOCA before sending a delegation abroad. We introduce people familiar with the local Chinese community to the delegation, and help with contacts and the reception of the delegation. This arrangement has proved fruitful. As Chairman Lin has just said, the exchanges between overseas Chinese associations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are becoming increasingly frequent. We are making progress step by step. Cross-strait exchange may be compared to a road. At the beginning, it is a narrow path, and as we walk on it for days and years, it will become a broad highway.

How do you approach the existing differences between your two overseas Chinese federations?

Lin: For historical and contemporary reasons, and because of the differences in people's values, it is inevitable that the overseas Chinese and their associations have conflicting interests on certain issues. However, the differences are only secondary to national unity and their kinship, friendship and common interests. As long as we emphasize our cultural identity, national attachment and common national interest, we can find proper solutions to the problems that may undermine harmony, through enhancing mutual trust, carrying out dialogue and consultation and seeking common ground while reserving differences.

(China.org.cn)