Premier: Both sides of Straits members of one big family

Mainland will continue to share opportunities

The Chinese mainland is committed to the one-China principle and opposes separatist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence", Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday.

"Our major principle and policy on issues related to Taiwan are clearcut," Li said at a news conference after the closing of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress.

"We are committed to the one-China principle and to the 1992 Consensus, and oppose separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence'. We will advance the peaceful growth of cross-Straits relations and the reunification of China," he said.

Li said compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are members of one big family and that this fraternal bond can never be severed.

The mainland will continue to share development opportunities with Taiwan compatriots and provide those coming to work and live on the mainland with equal treatment, he said.

"When the people on both sides of the Straits come together and forge ahead in unity, we will be able to promote the peaceful growth of cross-Straits relations and share the benefits of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," the premier added.

Zhang Zhijun, an NPC deputy who is also president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, said the central government's policies, principles, goals and tasks for Taiwan affairs, as well as the ardent expectations for Taiwan compatriots, were clearly stated in the Government Work Report delivered by the premier on March 5 at the opening of the NPC session.

"When Premier Li spoke about this part, enthusiastic applause broke out in the hall," Zhang said in an interview with China News Service on Thursday, adding that it demonstrates the Chinese people's firm determination to crush separatist attempts for "Taiwan independence" and oppose interference by foreign forces.

It also reflects the Chinese people's eager desire to promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and realize the reunification of the motherland, he said.

The Communist Party of China's overall policy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era has been written in the report this year.

Referring to the description of "opposing foreign interference" in the report, Zhang said it's due to the escalating tensions across the Taiwan Straits.

"At present, there are increasing risks and challenges as well as uncertainties over the Straits," he said, adding that the Democratic Progressive Party administration in Taiwan is colluding with the United States to seek "independence", increase military capabilities and resist unification with the mainland by force.

"What the DPP authority is doing goes against the trend of history and the will of compatriots. It seriously harms the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and the vital interests of compatriots on both sides, and increasingly pushes the island into danger," he said.

Regarding the future development of cross-Straits relations, Zhang said the motherland is bound to be reunified and "Taiwan independence" will inevitably fail, which is determined by the general trend of cross-Straits relations and the historical process of national rejuvenation.

The trend of the times is always on the side of those advocating the reunification of the motherland, and the initiative on solving the Taiwan question has always been held by the mainland, he said.

Zhang said the mainland should continue to provide convenience for Taiwan people to participate in cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, and support Fujian, the nearest mainland province to Taiwan, in exploring integrated development.

zhangyi1@chinadaily.com.cn