A senior Chinese official has reiterated that the solution of the Taiwan issue can not be delayed indefinitely, and that the position of the Chinese Government hasn't changed.

Vice-Premier Qian Qichen made the remarks while speaking at an annual meeting of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese held on Tuesday.

Qian denied any change in the government's policy on the Taiwan issue, referring to some foreign reports that China's policy on solving the Taiwan issue has been changed following the issuing of the white paper titled "The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue".

"This is wrong," Qian pointed out.

There is no change in the policy of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" nor is there any change in the eight-point proposition put forward by President Jiang Zemin, Qian stressed, adding that these have been expressed clearly in the white paper.

The solving of the Taiwan issue cannot be delayed indefinitely, and this is China's consistent position and not anything new, Qian pointed out.

As early as in October 1984, Qian said, the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "We adhere to seeking the solution of the Taiwan issue by peaceful means, we have never given up the possibility of using non-peaceful means, and we cannot make such a commitment. What can we do if the Taiwan Authorities will never talk with us? Can we give up national reunification?"

The recently-issued white paper titled "The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue" was aimed at "pushing forward the development of the cross-straits relations and urging the Taiwan Authorities to sit down to hold talks and negotiations with us," Qian said.