Symposium on Cross-Straits Relations Opens In HangzhouThe ninth symposium on relations across the Taiwan Straits opened today in Hangzhou in east China, attracting over 130 scholars from at home and overseas.In his opening remarks, Jing Shuping, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said that the cross-Straits relations stand at a crucial juncture. Despite the serious challenges, calls for improved cross- Straits relations have never ceased for a moment, which shows it is the common aspirations of all Chinese to promote the growth of the cross-Straits ties, Jing said. Jing, also vice-president of the Taiwan Studies Society, said that reunification benefits both sides of the Straits while separation hurts all. He expressed the hope that during the three-day meeting, participants would contribute their wisdom to the development of the cross-Straits relations. The meeting was jointly sponsored by the Taiwan Studies Society, All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots and the Taiwan Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. |
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