Standing on the Historical Point of Intersection

Home>>Opinion

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, April 16, 2002

Standing on the Historical Point of Intersection

Chinese President Jiang Zemin reiterated Wendesday that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, expressing his belief that China will finally achieve its national reunification, when visiting the Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam, where the famous Potsdam Proclamation was signed in 1945.
Following is a report written by People's Daily staff reporter Zhang Jingyu on President Jiang's visit to the Memorial Hall of the Potsdam Conference.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Potsdam is a small town in Brandenburg of northeast Germany. Although initial prosperity appeared here from the Prussian period in the 18th century, it was the Potsdam Conference, an important meeting held here in the mid-20th century, that boosted its reputation. On the morning of April 10, President Jiang, now on his visit in Germany, paid a special journy to the Memorial Hall of the famous Potsdam Conference.

Between July 17 and August 2, 1945, Stalin, Truman and Churchill, heads of state of the victorious nations in WWII-- the Soviet Union, the United States and Britain, held a summit meeting in Potsdam to seek solutions to a series of contradictions arisen over problems regarding how to share the fruits of victory won in the war among the allied nations and how to make post-war arrangements for peace. During the conference, the Potsdam Proclamation was published urging Japan to surrender unconditionally. On August 2, heads of state of the Soviet Union, the United States and Britain signed the Potsdam Agreement on the principle for handling post-war Germany. The Potsdam Conference not only changed the post-war histories of Germany and Europe as a whole, but also exerted important influence on the world pattern. The Potsdam Proclamation affirmed the principles set down in the Cairo Declaration, i.e., China's northeast, Taiwan and Penghu Islands usurped by Japan are all part of China. Because of this, the place of Potsdam is equally of unusual historic significance for China.

The site of the conference, Cecilienhof Palace situated in the tree shade by a lakeside, is a structure patterned upon British rural villa. The last Crown Prince William and his wife Cecilie in German history had it built between 1913 and 1917 during the reign of Wilhelm II. The Memorial Hall is housed in this palace. As one enters the gate and goes through a narrow portico, one will see inside it a closed small courtyard. At the center of the courtyard is a five-pointed star pattern composed of red flowers, still maintaining its original shape. The setting of the Conference Hall remains as what it was over 50 years ago. The national flags of the Soviet Union, the United States and Britain are placed on the round conference table with a diameter of three meters, around which are three armchairs and 12 small wooden chairs, the covering of the chairs, table cloth and carpet are of the same vermilion color, all of which add an atmosphere of solemnity.

Accompanied by the governor of Brandenburg, President Jiang listened to introduction on the situation about the Potsdam Conference and carefully viewed the documents, photos and other valuable historical relics displayed in the Memorial Hall. From time to time he inquired of the host particulars about the conference. Then the president came to the conference hall, at the invitation of the host, he sat down on an armchair once used by heads of state of the above-said three countries and wrote message in the visitors' book. At this point, a reporter long been waiting on one side raised a question: "President Jiang, the Potsdam Proclamation has long before established that Taiwan is Chinese territory, but the two sides of the Straits are still in a state of separation, what's your view about this matter? President Jiang gave a prompt answer that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, this had been recognized by the international community at that time. Another reporter asked the governor, "Do you think China can realize reunification?" The governor gave an affirmative answer. He said the time lay on the Chinese side. The Chinese have sufficient patience and firm belief in realization of China's reunification.

Before he started off on the journey to Potsdam on the morning of April 10, President Jiang delivered a speech entitled "Making Joint Efforts to Create a New Century of Peace and Prosperity" in the German Foreign Policy Association. In the speech he pointed out that in the last century, humankind experienced the calamities of two world wars as well as the hardships caused by the confrontation during the Cold War, paying off a huge price. The people of various countries do not want to see another outbreak of new hot war, cold war or turbulence in any regions of the world, instead they all yearn for lasting world peace and for living a life of stability and peace.

Nowadays, as we once again stand at the point of intersection marking the turn of the century, Germany, where the site of the Potsdam Conference is located, has regained unification. Due to artificial obstruction, however, the principle affirmed by the Conference for the reunification of China remains an important mission for which the Chinese people still need to continue their striving in the new century. President Jiang's speech has fortified people's confidence that through the joint efforts of the people on both sides of the Straits and with the support of the world friendly forces, China's reunification can certainly be realized. The days are not far off when the Chinese people's long-cherished hope for national reunification will be realized.

By People's Daily Online

Questions?Comments? Click here

Jiang Visits Cecilienhof Palace of Potsdam, Reiterates National Reunification

>> Full Coverage

China Calls for Total Israeli Withdrawal from Palestinian Territories ( 119 Messages)

FM Spokeswoman: US Has Clarified its Stance on Taiwan Issue ( 16 Messages)

Don't Regard Politician's Clamor as Ravings, How Far Japan Is Away From Nuke ( 68 Messages)

Chen Shui-bian Preaches Again "Taiwan Independence" ( 4 Messages)

Kissinger Promises Zhu Further Efforts to Promote Bilateral Ties ( 3 Messages)