Top political adviser calls for peaceful national reunification

Top political adviser Wang Yang met on Monday with Hung Hsiuchu, former chairwoman of the Kuomintang party, and called for joint efforts to achieve peaceful reunification of the country and national rejuvenation.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, met with Hung, who is leading a delegation from various circles in Taiwan on a visit to Beijing from Sunday to Wednesday.

Wang said he appreciated Hung's adherence to the 1992 Consensus, the one-China principle and her opposing "Taiwan independence", as well as her contribution to the development of cross-Straits relations and the well-being of compatriots on both sides.

He said President Xi Jinping's speech on Jan 2 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan has led to Taiwan compatriots actively expressing their strong will to strengthen cross-Straits cooperation through dialogue, and devoting themselves to the great cause of national reunification.

"It shows that the development of cross-Straits relations is the trend of the times," he said. "National reunification bears on the future of Taiwan and the nation," he added.

He said that on the basis of one-China principle and opposing "Taiwan independence", the mainland is ready to engage in dialogue and consultation in various forms and with a wide range of content with parties, organizations and individuals in Taiwan.

Hung said people on both sides should adhere to the one-China principle and oppose "Taiwan independence", and work to promote communication and increase trust.

She appealed for people on both sides to find effective ways to institutionalize cross-Straits peaceful development and contribute to the deepening of cross-Straits integration and the realization of peaceful reunification.

On Monday morning, a symposium on cross-Straits relations and national rejuvenation was held in Beijing, which was co-organized by the Center for the Study of Cross-Straits Relations in the mainland and the Chinese Cyan Geese Peace Education Foundation in Taiwan.

About 100 people from across the Straits attended the meeting, including Liu Jieyi, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and Hung, who is also president of the education foundation.

The participants reached a positive consensus and put forward joint initiatives through dialogue and consultation, the mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement on Monday.

Both sides should join hands to achieve national rejuvenation, and in the process of national rejuvenation, Taiwan compatriots should not and will not be absent, the statement read.

The mainland will continue to share development opportunities with Taiwan compatriots so as to increase people's sense of gain, honor and well-being, the statement said.