By Xinhua,
Beijing : China Wednesday said it is willing to discuss with Taiwan “proper and reasonable” arrangements for the island’s participation in international organisations, as long as they conform to the “one China” policy.
Delivering his speech to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the mainland’s “Message to Compatriots in Taiwan”, President Hu Jintao here said: “Although the two sides of the Taiwan Straits have been split since 1949 by a civil war, the political confrontation between them did not change the fact that they belonged to one China”.
Taiwan, which set up its own government after the 1949 civil war that saw the communists in the seat of power in Beijing, lost its UN seat in 1971 to China and has been since unsuccessfully trying to join the global body. China has opposed such a move saying it amounts to a declaration of independence.
“Under a common understanding of ‘one China’, anything can be talked about between the two sides,” Hu said. “Anything that is conducive to peaceful development across the Straits, we will greatly promote. Anything that harms it, we will firmly oppose.”
Hu also proposed that the two sides stop confrontations and reach peaceful agreements, adding that the two sides should step up political talks and increase military contacts and exchanges to ease cross-Straits tension and reduce worries about military security.
Hu said both sides can talk about a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement to establish a collaboration mechanism with special cross-Straits characteristics, which would be complementary and mutually beneficial to both sides.
The president said he hoped that Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party could clearly understand the situation and stop secessionist activities. “If the party could abandon its ‘Taiwan independence’ stance, we would make a positive response to them,” he said.
He said that all those who have advocated and been involved in secessionist activities were welcome to return to the right direction of peaceful reunification.
“We continue to welcome and support Taiwan companies’ business in the mainland and encourage mainland enterprises to invest in Taiwan,” he said. “We expect to normalise economic relations across the Straits and establish an economic cooperation mechanism.”
“We will continue to take measures to push forward cross-Straits cultural and educational exchanges to a broader and higher stage, including conferring with Taiwan on a cultural and educational exchange protocol,” Hu said.
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, issued the “Message to Compatriots in Taiwan” Jan 1, 1979.
In this statement, the mainland first proposed to end the military confrontation across the Taiwan Straits through dialogue and welcomed exchanges between the two sides.