The scheduled resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Macao by the Chinese government on December 20 means that the goal of the Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership to reunify China is one major step closer to fulfillment.

Ever since Mao Zedong (1893-1976) declared the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) atop the Tiananmen Gate 50 years ago, China's reunification has remained an unswerving goal for the leadership of the CPC.

The government of new China has abolished all unequal treaties that former Chinese governments had signed with foreign countries, paving the way for the homecoming of Hong Kong and Macao. In the meantime,the central government has tried hard to prevent the separation of Taiwan from China. In 1955, the late Premier Zhou Enlai announced that the central government would try to liberate Taiwan through peaceful means.

A major breakthrough was made in this regard in February 1972, when the Sino-US Joint Communique was signed, in which the US government said it had no objection to China's claim of sovereignty over Taiwan Province.

In November 1972, the United Nations passed a resolution to delete Hong Kong and Macao from the list of colonies, which laid a solid foundation for the homecoming of the two pieces of Chinese territory.

On January 1, 1979, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress issued a letter to compatriots in Taiwan. Deng Xiaoping, who headed the second-generation CPC leadership, called the New Year's Day of 1979 "a special day," when reunification of the motherland was put on the agenda.

In September 1982, Deng told visiting British prime minister that the Chinese government would be forced to step down if it were unable to resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong.

Deng invented the concept of "one country, two systems" and personally gave instructions when the Chinese government negotiated with the British government on the settlement of the Hong Kong question and with the Portuguese government on the settlement of the Macao question. He also expressed views on the drafting of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

In recent years, Jiang Zemin, at the core of the third generation CPC leadership, has missed no opportunities in calling for greater, unified efforts with compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to achieve the goal of China's reunification.

Since Hong Kong returned to its motherland on July 1, 1997, the Chinese president has been twice in the region to hear opinions of local residents. Jiang is also going to lead the Chinese government delegation to attend the ceremony for Macao's handover to China and celebrations to mark the homecoming of Macao.

On the issue of reunification, the CPC central leaderships of three generations headed respectively by Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin have displayed their wisdom by adhering to fundamental principles while adopting a flexible attitude.

Though capable of taking back Hong Kong and Macao shortly after the founding of New China, the CPC leadership decided then not to do so. Maintenance of the status quo, the central leadership reasoned, was conducive to social stability in the two regions and conducive to the establishment of ties by New China with the outside world through them in the face of a US-led embargo. Facts have proved that it has been a successful strategy.

In 1963, the CPC leadership worked out a brand-new policy toward Taiwan, allowing the Taiwan authorities to retain decision- making powers on all internal matters except foreign affairs.

In January 1982, Deng Xiaoping put forward, for the first time, the concept of "one country, two systems" to allow the practicing of capitalism in some special regions while the main body of China adopts socialism. Since then, the cause of reunification has made substantial progress.

On December 19, 1984, the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Hong Kong Question was inked. On April 4, 1987, a breakthrough was made on the settlement of the Macao question when the Sino- Portuguese Joint Declaration on the issue was signed. Shortly afterwards, cross-Straits relations reached a turning-point on November 2, 1987, when the Red Cross of Taiwan began to handle mainland applicants for travelling to the other side of the Taiwan Straits.

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the third-generation CPC leadership has stepped up their effort to implement the "one country, two systems" policy, and return of Hong Kong and Macao entered a new period. The Basic Law of HKSAR and the Basic Law of MSAR were adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in 1990 and 1993 respectively.

The successful handover of Hong Kong, on July 1, 1997, has been a good example for the upcoming return of Macao. The central government has strictly adhered to its pledge of no interference in the internal affairs of the HKSAR, under the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and "a high degree of autonomy" for Hong Kong.

To promote the establishment of ties across the Taiwan Straits, the central government has taken a series of measures and policies including the setting up of Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits on December 16, 1991 and the enactment of Law on Protection of Investment by Taiwan Compatriots in January 1994. Jiang Zemin, in an important speech he made in early 1995, raised the well-known eight proposals on developing cross-Straits relations and promoting China's reunification. He called for negotiations to end hostilities and opening direct trade and direct postal and transport services across the Taiwan Straits.

In recent years, cross-Straits relations have kept developing despite disturbances from the other side of the Straits, mainly from Lee Teng-hui.

The third-generation CPC leadership is confident that, following a smooth return of Hong Kong and Macao to their motherland, the aspiration of the Chinese people to reunify their country is bound to be fulfilled in the new century.