Lien: Strong Chinese nation no longer reachless dream
(chinadaily.com.cn/Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-04-29 06:36

A modernized, prosperous, strong and well-being Chinese nation is no longer a reachless dream, visiting KMT Chairman Lien Chan said Friday in a speech in the Peking University.

Lien said that Taiwan is embarking on its second economic wonder and the mainland is facing an opportunity that occurs only once in 1,000 years.

A video grab shows visiting Taiwan opposition KMT Chairman Lien Chan delivers a speech at the Peking University in Beijing April 29, 2005. [Xinhua]

Lien called for co-operation and a win-win between the two sides of the Taiwan strait.

"We're paving the way and building a bridge, and the people will be glad to see cross-Straits dialog, reconciliation and cooperation, rather than confrontation or conflict," Lien said.

A stable peace is every one's hope, Lien said, urging the maintenance of a stable cross-Straits staus quo.

He quoted a famous Western saying "peace by pieces," saying that every Chinese should contribute his "piece" of efforts to the promotion of peace across the Taiwan Straits, and every Chinese should be held accountable for the well-being of the rest of the Chinese on the globe.

"We should put the people first and give priority to the people's well-being," he said during a speech delivered at Beijing University. "This is supported by all the Chinese people, including the 23 million residents in Taiwan and the 1.3 billion on the mainland."

The KMT leader continued that the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang both aimed for a prosperous and strong China.

The Taiwan independence timetable should never be allowed to destroy the basis for the people’s well-being, Lien pointed out, adding that 66 per cent of the people in Taiwan were in favor of harmonious talks between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits according to a survey released last Sunday.

Lien urges discarding old mentality 

Lien Chan urged some people in Taiwan to give up the old thinking and seek the well-being of people across the Taiwan Straits.

Lien said, "some people in Taiwan say my visit aims to seek the third KMT-CPC cooperation to 'contain Taiwan.'"

"That's a very grave distortion," Lien said. "The mentality of these people are still in the state of the 1920s and 1930s."

"Why couldn't we pay more attention to the present and create abetter future," said Lien.

"Why couldn't we proceeding from goodwill, trust each other, take into consideration of the well-being of both sides and the long-term interests of the Chinese nation" in handling across-Strait affairs, said Lien.

Calling for giving priorities to the interests and well-being of the people, Lien said, "I believe that's a trend supported by both the 23 million people in Taiwan and the 1.3 billion people inthe mainland."

Mainland, Taiwan urged to join hands for common prosperity

Lien Chan said it is undoubtedly good for the Chinese mainland and Taiwan to join hands for common prosperity.

The win-win situation resulting from closer economic ties across the Taiwan Straits will benefit not only the two sides but also neighboring countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Lien said in a speech to teachers and students of Beijing University.

"One plus one makes more than two," Lien said, adding that the two sides across the Straits are now more and more interdependent.

While the mainland is striving for rapid economic growth, Taiwan tries is on the way for its second round of economic miracle, Lien said.

"The common prosperity for the Chinese across the Straits is nolonger a unattainable dream," he said.

Parties pledge to work for Straits peace

A top leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) yesterday pledged to work together with Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) to promote cross-Straits peace and stability.

Jia Qinglin, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the overture while meeting KMT Chairman Lien Chan in the Great Hall of the People.

KMT chairman leader Lien Chan (L) and Jia Qingling, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, toast each other at a banquet hosted by Jia in Beijing April 28, 2005.

Lien and his 60-member delegation arrived in Beijing yesterday morning on the second leg of their eight-day four-city trip which began in Nanjing on Tuesday.

He is the first KMT chairman to visit the mainland since 1949.

Jia told the delegation that top leaders from the two parties will hold historic meetings in a bid to pursue cross-Straits peace and strengthen bilateral exchanges and co-operation.

The re-opening of CPC-KMT dialogue after 60 years is of both historic and current significance, said Jia, also chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee.

The CPC leader added the two parties share common responsibility for improving cross-Straits relations to benefit the welfare of people on both sides.

Moving out of shadows

"What we expect is not only to open a new chapter in cross-Straits relations and ties between our two parties through more exchanges, communication and mutual understanding," said Jia. "We also hope cross-Straits ties can move out of the shadows towards a peaceful future."

He vowed to join efforts with all Taiwanese parties, organizations and representatives who oppose "Taiwan independence" to strive for a peaceful, stable, co-operative future across the Straits.

To sincerely promote and safeguard the interests of people across the Straits is the right choice and will finally win the endorsement and support of all, Jia stressed.

During the meeting, Lien said his visit represented the strong aspirations among the Taiwanese people for better relations between Taiwan and the mainland.

"We have heard the voice of the people and it is also our unshirkable historic responsibility," the KMT leader said.

Earlier, he told a welcoming ceremony at Beijing Capital International Airport that people on both sides of the Straits want to have a peaceful, win-win future through reconciliation and dialogue.

"That's an unstoppable trend...and we should seize the opportunity to shape our future," Lien said.

He expressed his appreciation of the fast development and great changes which have taken place on the mainland over the past two decades, saying the mainland is totally different to his childhood memories.

"Today's visit has not come easily for myself, my family or my colleagues," he said.

"We highly cherish and will take advantage of the valuable opportunity to listen, see and know more about the mainland."

The KMT chairman noted that he was looking forward to his talks with CPC Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao this afternoon, which are scheduled to be broadcast live at 3:00 pm.

To fully prepare for the talks, Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, held a working meeting with KMT Secretary-General Lin Feng-cheng yesterday.

At 9:45 am today, Lien will deliver a speech at Peking University followed by a question-and-answer session.

Lien visited the Forbidden City yesterday afternoon and enjoyed folk arts performances such as Peking Opera at the famous Laoshe Teahouse in downtown Beijing in the evening.

(China Daily 04/29/2005 page1)

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