State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan has met with a Taiwanese press delegation at the Great Hall of the People. During the meeting, Tang Jiaxuan reiterated China's unswerving stand on the basic principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems".

The State Councilor said that China would adhere to former Chinese President Jiang Zemin's eight-point proposal to resolve the Taiwan issue, and the four points of opinion on Taiwan "under the new situation" rose by Chinese President Hu Jintao in March.

Tang Jiaxuan said the Taiwanese press had contributed greatly to promote cross-strait relationships. However, he said media exchanges between the two sides were uneven, as Taiwanese authorities still imposed limitations.

He hoped the media of the two sides could learn more about the wishes of ordinary people and continue to bridge cross-Strait relations.

In a separate meeting on the same day, Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a visiting delegation of Taiwan's ethnic minorities for cultural exchange that no fundamental conflicts lie between the compatriots and there are only the common interests.

Chen added that the ethnic minorities in Taiwan are important members of the Chinese nation. He stressed that exchanges between the two sides should not be influenced or restricted by any political factors or artificially imposed obstacles.

Chen also called on compatriots on both sides to put down the separatist activities of the "independence of Taiwan" forces, which harm the interests of people and cross-strait ties. He said that the Chinese mainland is trying its utmost to promote the early establishment of three direct links of trade, mail and transport services across the straits.

According to figures released by Taiwan authorities, Taiwanese investment on the Chinese mainland totaled around 1.8 billion US dollars during the first five months this year, up 44 percent year on year.

Business analysts believe that the rapid increase in investment indicates Taiwanese investors' confidence in the mainland's economic prospects.

The 73-person delegation arrived in Beijing Thursday for a three-day visit following a tour of south China's Hainan Province.

(CCTV.com August 8, 2003)