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
107.8 billion U.S. dollars 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.
