'Johannesburg Declaration' Calls on Overseas Chinese Worldwide to Promote Peaceful Reunification

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 21, 2002

'Johannesburg Declaration' Calls on Overseas Chinese Worldwide to Promote Peaceful Reunification

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According to the news from Johannesburg the All Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China was inaugurated on January 19 and at the same time we saw the conference on the Peaceful Reunification of China being held here. The conference was wound up with a "Johannesburg Declaration", calling on the Chinese expatriates and overseas Chinese all over the world to oppose "Taiwan Independence" for promoting the peaceful reunification of China.

The delegations on both sides of the strait headed respectively by Li Zupei, vice-president of All China Overseas Chinese Federation and Mr. Liang Su-yung, Head of Taiwan Straits Peaceful Reunification Association attended the conference. Present at the conference were also some 500 sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, representatives of the Chinese expatriates and overseas Chinese from other provinces of the South Africa and from other continents and regions worldwide. Mr. Donald Wong, Chairman of Transvaul Chinese Association of South Africa was elected president of All Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China at the conference.

At the opening ceremony of the conference Mr. Wong was the first to address that the overseas Chinese and Chinese expatriates all over the world have formed their own communities. Though many of them were born in where they are now and cannot speak Chinese they all find their roots in China, recognizing they are the Chinese and they are very much concerned about the compatriots in Taiwan, holding that Taiwan is part of the Chinese territory. "We often say we are Taiwanese, or Shanghainese or Cantonese but we are all Chinese. Let's take to heart Dr. Sun Yat-sen's testament and unite closely together."

Mr. Li Zupei first expressed his congratulations on the establishment of All Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China, holding that its setting-up has a profound significance. "It indicates that the overseas Chinese in Africa like all other Chinese living overseas are very much concerned about the peaceful reunification of the motherland and they unite together to promote actively the cause of peaceful reunification of China. This has once again expressed in a forcible way that the peaceful reunification of China is favored by both the Chinese people and by all other Chinese living abroad.

The conference is the seventh one convened by the Chinese on this globe. It is preceded by the convocation of the six such meetings held in China's Hong Kong, Berlin in Germany, Panama in mid-America, San Francisco and Washington in the USA and Tokyo in Japan for the reunification of China in opposition to the "Independence of Taiwan". "More than 30 million Chinese all over the world getting together once again for a unanimous opposition to "Taiwan Independence" and advocacy for reunification of China is of great political significance, which will certainly make great contribution to and exert profound influence on the peaceful reunification across the strait." He believed, "the reunification of the Chinese nation sees a bright future ahead."

The overseas Chinese in South Africa have always nurtured a fine tradition of patriotism, pointed out Liu Gui, Chinese ambassador to the South Africa, and they have been doing a great deal in promoting the reunification of the motherland and national rejuvenation. This time, they set off to establish the All Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China. It is a kind of meritorious deeds that are sure to be revered by the latecomers.

Also addressed at the conference were Wang Kebin, President of the Association for Peaceful Reunification of China and Zhang Manxin, President of the European Association for Peaceful Reunification of China and others. The inaugurating conference has also received some 26 letters of congratulations from all over the world.

At the conference for the peaceful reunification of China held that afternoon, Tang Shubei, director of the Research Center on the Relations across the Strait made a speech. It consists of the four major parts: One China principle is the basis of the relations across the Taiwan strait; To adhere to the one China principle caters to the interest of the people in Taiwan; the 1992 consensus expressing the one-China principle as reached between the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait and the Strait Exchange Foundation has embodied the equal status for negotiation across the strait and the forces for "Taiwan Independence" will be difficult to get anything out of it and the reunification of China is a great trend in the world.

At the closing ceremony the " 'Johannesburg Declaration' was announced jointly by the overseas Chinese and Chinese expatriates all over the world for the peaceful reunification of China'. The declaration pointed out: the activities conducted on the African Continent in opposition to the "Taiwan Independence" and for the Reunification of China have once again expressed the strong wishes of over 30 million Chinese living abroad for the early reunification of China in opposition to the "Independence of Taiwan". The declaration held that the conference has reached the following three points in common: First of all, the early realization of peaceful reunification of China is where lies the fundamental interest of the Chinese nation, and we appeal that both sides of the strait will on the one-China principle put an end to the past faults and antagonistic state of affairs across the strait as early as possible to start the talk for the realization of peaceful reunification of China. This is a common expectation of the Chinese people on both sides of the strait and all the Chinese living abroad. Secondly, to expand economic and cultural exchanges across the strait so as to create favorable conditions for the peaceful reunification of the motherland. The further expansion of economic cooperation across the strait will be complimentary to and benefit each other, that is conducive to Taiwan's shaking off its predicament. The "Cultural Independence" advocated by the Taiwan Authority and the forces for "Taiwan Independence" will get no support from among the people. And thirdly, Resolutely oppose to any disruptive forces from without in an attempt to sever China. In this world, there is only one China. The motherland's mainland and Taiwan belong to this China and no separation of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity will be allowed.

By PD Online Staff Han Rongliang

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