The theme of reunification was once again highlighted at Monday's opening of the annual session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC) as Premier Zhu Rongji re-affirmed the official stance on the issue in his government work report.

Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), and Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of the Macao SAR, who were seated smiling side by side on the rostrum, drew attention from those at the NPC session.

Then, the flash lights of cameras and videocamera flooded onto them while Premier Zhu was reading out the solemn statement that resounded the magnificent hall -- "The return of Hong Kong and Macao to the motherland marks great progress toward the realization of the great cause of complete reunification of the motherland."

Zhu promised that the central government will adhere to the policy of "one country, two systems", and continue to support the Hong Kong and Macao SAR governments.

Hong Kong has recovered from the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis, which began in 1997, and it has maintained social stability. For Macao, everything has been operating well ever since the Macao SAR was established on December 20 of last year.

The formula of "one country, two systems", a concept of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, has come true in both Hong Kong and Macao.

"The return of Hong Kong and Macao has made the task of resolving the Taiwan issue and realizing the complete reunification of the motherland even more outstanding as a sacred mission for the people of all ethnic groups in China," the premier went on with his report, reiterating the resolve of the Chinese government to accomplish the great cause of the reunification of the motherland.

Tung and Ho joined nearly 3,000 NPC deputies and 2,000 CPPCC National Committee members throughout the hall in thunderous applause to respond the premier's announcement, which goes, "The Chinese people are determined and absolutely able to bring the Taiwan question to an early settlement and realize the great cause of reunification of the motherland."

The exciting Zhang Kehui, aged 72, a CPPCC National Committee member who was born in Taiwan and chairman of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, told Xinhua, "I agree with the premier's statement on the great cause of reunification of the motherland."

"There were two rounds of enthusiastic applause from among the audience when he was elaborating on the Taiwan issue," Zhang noted, "it fully shows the firm will of the Chinese people to resolve the issue at an early date."

Many of the deputies interviewed by Xinhua are unanimous on the view, "We are placing hopes on the Taiwan Authorities and even more on the people of Taiwan. We are willing to continue working together with Taiwan compatriots in developing cross-straits relations and realizing reunification of the motherland."

General Li Laizhu, a NPC deputy and former commander of the Beijing Military Commanding Area of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), said, "The One-China Principle is the premise and basis for peaceful reunification and it is our consistent guideline as well."