Lien: Strong Chinese nation no longer reachless dream
(chinadaily.com.cn/Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-04-29 11:00

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.

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: "desinification" unacceptable

Lien Chan said in the speech that the majority in Taiwan would not accept the policy of "desinification," which is aimed atsevering ties between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

It's "a pity" that some political forces in Taiwan have been advocating such "an extreme idea", said Lien when answering a question at the end of his 40-minute speech.

"I'm sure that the majority of Taiwan people will not take on their shoes," said Lien, who described the efforts for "desinification" as something out of the imagination of the people in other countries and the mainland.

These "desinification" efforts have aroused great concern among Taiwan people and even foreigners residing in Taiwan, he added.

According to him, parents of numerous school children are now looking for resources other than public schools in Taiwan to continue education in Chinese history and culture.

"The parents hope their children could learn more about the creams of the Chinese culture," Lien said.

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.

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."

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