Sun's spirit to be carried forward - Yok
By Song Wenwei in Nanjing and Zheng Yanyan in Dalian (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-09 07:23

A delegation from Taiwan's New Party, led by its chairman Yok Mu-ming, arrived early Friday morning in this capital city of East China's Jiangsu Province.

This is part of a series of trips to the mainland by Taiwanese party leaders. Delegates from the Kuomintang and the People First Party both travelled to the mainland earlier this year.

The New Party delegation firstly paid tribute at Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum in the eastern suburbs of the city.

Visiting New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming from Taiwan speaks during a visit to the memorial Hall for the Victims of Nanjing Massacre in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province July 8, 2005. [newsphoto]

"We are here to show our deepest respect for Dr Sun Yat-sen, and to show our determination to carry on his will for a unified country," said Yok after the delegation recited Dr Sun Yat-sen's will in front of Fraternity Square at the mausoleum.

"We should carry forward Sun's spirit of uniting with all peoples to build a peaceful and prosperous China," said Yok.

The group's presence at the mausoleum was cheered by tourists who waved and shouted greetings.

Nanjing residents hold banners that read "Peace is most valuable" at the memorial Hall for the victims of Nanjing Massacre in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province July 8, 2005. [newsphoto]

"I am happy that I can see our Taiwan compatriots here today and I can tell from what they have said that they want to see a united nation," said Ruan Yongli, a 75-year-old retired teacher from Anhui Province.

The onlooker added that Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits should have closer and more frequent communication with each other for better mutual understanding.

After Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, the delegation visited Nanjing Memorial Hall for Compatriots Murdered in the Nanjing Massacre.

In December 1937, invading Japanese troops committed atrocities in the city, killing 300,000 local residents in less than a month.

"The truth can never be distorted and concealed, although some people still deny the crimes and atrocities from those horrible days," said Yok.

He said that war had done enormous harm to the Chinese people and to Japan as well.

"Only by knowing the truth can we shoulder the responsibility of working for a peaceful future," said Yok.

"Though we Chinese people and many Japanese people are seeking the truth, some rightists in Japan have been shamelessly denying and distorting historical facts from the Nanjing Massacre, which only reveals their intentions towards militarism," said Yok.

He also said that more Taiwan people, especially the young, should come and visit for themselves so that they will know the truth and the importance of a united nation, which should never be bullied by any power.

After they concluded the Nanjing visit, the delegation arrived in Dailian, a port city in Northeast China's Liaoning Province, to begin the third leg of their tour.

Yok Mu-ming said at the airport that this was the first time he had visited Dalian. The group is to visit Lushun and hold discussions with Taiwan businessmen in the city.

They attended a welcoming ceremony in Dalian given by Li Keqiang, secretary of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) Liaoning Provincial Committee.

There are 2,906 enterprises in the province funded by Taiwan businessmen, and around 5,000 Taiwanese now live and study here, Li said.

Li hopes to promote the development of the province together with Taiwan compatriots.

The delegation is to leave the city on Sunday for Beijing.

(China Daily 07/09/2005 page2)

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