President Hu Jintao offered new proposals on further promoting

cross-Straits peaceful development

At a ceremony in Beijing on December 31, 2008 commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Chinese Government’s Message to Compatriots in Taiwan, President Hu Jintao delivered an important speech entitled Join Hands to Promote the Peaceful Development of the Cross-Straits Relationship and Achieve the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation. He reviewed the unremitting efforts of the Chinese Government and people over the past three decades to promote the peaceful reunification of the motherland and pledged that the Chinese Government will continue to promote peaceful development of the cross-Straits relations on the basis of the one China principle. This major statement is of great significance to the continued peaceful development of the relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. It also has a positive impact on the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

President Hu said that reunification is at the very core of our efforts to resolve the Taiwan question. The objective is to safeguard and ensure national sovereignty and territorial integrity, pursue happiness for all Chinese including the compatriots in Taiwan and achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Peaceful reunification serves best the fundamental interest of the Chinese nation including the compatriots in Taiwan. It is also in line with the trend of the times dominated by the pursuit of peace, development and cooperation. China will strive for peaceful reunification with utmost sincerity and maximum effort. In promoting the peaceful development of the cross-Straits relations, the two sides must solidify the political basis that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China, deepen exchanges and cooperation, push for progress in consultations and negotiations and rely on the concerted efforts of the compatriots on both sides of Straits. They must move forward hand in hand with their minds set on ushering a new phase of peaceful development of the cross-Straits relations.

President Hu put forward the following six proposals on continuing to promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations in the current situation.

1. Adhere to one China principle and promote mutual political trust.

Sovereignty and territorial integrity are the core interest of a nation. There is only one China in the world. China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity brooks no separation. Although reunification of the mainland and Taiwan is yet to be achieved, the state of affairs between the two sides since 1949 is not separation of China’s territory or sovereignty but political antagonism left over from the civil war in the latter half of the 1940s. Such state of affairs does not change the fact that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China. Reunification of the two sides is not a creation of new sovereignty and territory but an end to political antagonism. This is a matter of principle that involves safeguarding the one China framework. Forming a consensus and common position on this principled question will lay the foundation for building mutual political trust and solution-oriented goodwill. The two sides should adopt a constructive attitude, be forward looking and work together to create conditions for consultations on an equal footing and, through such consultations, resolve the problems left over from history and new ones that emerge as we move forward. It is the shared responsibility of compatriots on both sides to continue to oppose the separatist activities aimed at “Taiwan independence” as this is the necessary condition that enables the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

2. Promote economic cooperation and common development.

The compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits should engage in extensive cooperation, expand “three direct links”, cultivate common interests, establish close bonds and achieve win-win results. The mainland continues to welcome and support the presence and growth of Taiwan businesses in the mainland while encouraging and supporting mainland businesses to invest in Taiwan wherever conditions permit. We look forward to the day of normalization of the economic relations between the two sides and institutionalization of economic cooperation, which will further strengthen the material basis and provide greater economic power for the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. Toward this end, the two sides may sign a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement and build cooperation mechanisms with features that suit both sides so as to maximize the mutual complementarity and mutual benefit.

3. Carry forward the Chinese culture and strengthen cultural bond.

The Chinese culture is deeply rooted and flourishing in Taiwan and, at the same time, enriched by the local indigenous culture. Loving Taiwan is different from “Taiwan independence”. Compatriots on both sides of the Straits are heirs to the fine Chinese heritage and are entrusted with the task to carry it forward. The two sides must engage in various forms of cultural exchanges to strengthen the national awareness, form a common will and cultivate the spiritual strength that sustains us in the pursuit of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Special effort is needed to increase youth exchanges so as to inject fresh dynamism into the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. The mainland will continue to take positive measures, including a willingness to start talks on a cultural and educational exchange agreement, in order to expand the scope and raise the level of cultural and educational exchanges across the Straits.

4. Increase mutual visits and exchanges between various communities.

We are ready to respond positively to any constructive suggestion that is conducive to promoting the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. We will continue to push for greater dialogues between the KMT and the CPC with a view to materializing the “common vision of peaceful development across the Taiwan Straits”. As for the lack of understanding or even misunderstanding of the mainland and suspicion about developing cross-Straits relations among some compatriots in Taiwan for one reason or the other, we are ready to not only meet them with maximum tolerance and patience but also adopt more positive measures to allow more and more compatriots in Taiwan to benefit from promoting the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. We also warmly welcome those who, in the past, stood for, engaged in and pursued “Taiwan independence” to change course and join us in promoting the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. We hope the DPP will come to a clear judgment of the current situation and stop the separatist activities aimed at “Taiwan independence” rather than going against the common aspiration of the nation. As long as the DPP change its separatist stance and stop pursuing “Taiwan independence”, we are ready to respond positively.

5. Safeguard national sovereignty and handle external matters through consultation.

We are all along committed to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Taiwan compatriots in foreign countries. Our embassies and consulates will reach out to the Taiwan compatriots and offer sincere assistance to those in need. We appreciate how the Taiwan compatriots feel about participation in international activities and attach importance to finding solutions to relevant issues. The overall interests of the Chinese nation will be better served if the two sides of the Taiwan Straits avoid unnecessary frictions on matters of external relations and activities. As for the prospect of people-to-people economic and cultural exchanges between Taiwan and foreign countries, the two sides could have further consultation where needed. Through pragmatic consultation between the two sides, there could also be appropriate and reasonable arrangement for Taiwan’s participation in the activities of international organizations without creating “two China’s” or “one China one Taiwan”. Resolving the Taiwan question and achieving complete national unification is China’s internal affair that brooks no foreign interference.

6. End hostility by reaching a peace agreement.

Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are responsible to bring the hostility between the two sides to an end, do their best to avoid forcing brothers to meet on the battlefield again and allow the future generations to live in peace and build better lives together. In order to create a good atmosphere for cross-Straits talks and negotiations and make arrangements for exchanges and contacts, the two sides may start pragmatic discussions on the political relations in the special circumstance of absence of unification. And in order to stabilize the situation in the Taiwan Straits and reduce military and security concerns, the two sides may have contacts and exchanges regarding military issues in due course to explore the topic of establishing a mechanism of mutual military and security trust. We, again, call for consultation between the two sides on formally ending hostility, reaching a peace agreement and conceiving a framework for the peaceful development of the cross-Straits relations on the basis of the one China principle.

President Hu stressed that the compatriots on both sides of the Straits are the same people sharing the same destiny. China is home to those on the mainland and in Taiwan, who are all responsible to safeguard her and make her better. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation hinges upon the joint hard work of the people on both sides, the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations relies on the concerted efforts of the people on both sides, and the fruit of the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations will be shared by the people on both sides. We will carry out the guideline of placing hope on the people in Taiwan in every work we do, provide practical assistance and facility to the Taiwan compatriots, protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Taiwan compatriots according to law and bring together the strength of the greatest majority of the Taiwan compatriots to push for the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. Taiwan’s future is closely associated with the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nations. The people in Taiwan will share in the dignity and glory of a great nation together with their compatriots on the mainland, and take pride in being proud Chinese.

According to President Hu, the Hong Kong and Macau compatriots and overseas Chinese have long cared for the reunification cause, and they have been an important counter force to “Taiwan independence”. It is sincerely hoped that they will continue to contribute to the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and the peaceful reunification of the motherland. President Hu also expressed appreciation to the international community for their support over the years for the Chinese Government and people in safeguarding peace in the Taiwan Straits, promoting relations between the two sides and striving for complete national reunification. China’s reunification will not compromise any country’s interests. China’s reunification will only promote prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world, and enable the Chinese people to make new and greater contribution to mankind’s lofty cause of peace and development.