Noted HK Figures on Jiang Zemin's Eight-Point Proposal on ReunificationNoted Hong Kong figures were invited to a forum in Hong Kong Tuesday to mark the sixth anniversary of the publication of President Jiang Zemin's Eight-Point Proposal on China's reunification.The participants, from all walks of life in Hong Kong, said Jiang's proposal represents a guideline for the solution of the Taiwan issue under the "peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems" principle. It also demonstrates the determination of China's leadership for the reunification and reflects the wishes of the Chinese people at home and overseas, they added. Xing Kuishan, director general of the Taiwan Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said practice in the development of the cross-Straits relations shows that the proposal is a mighty ideological weapon for safeguarding the state sovereignty and territorial integrity. In the past year, the Chinese mainland continued to uphold the banner of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems," putting forth the cross-Straits dialog and negotiations under the one China principle and combating the separatist forces on the island, he said. He pointed out that in this significant struggle concerning the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, the Hong Kong compatriots and the Taiwan compatriots living in Hong Kong show their glorious tradition of patriotism. In various forms, they resolutely expressed their stance of adhering to the one China principle and promoting the reunification of the motherland, Xing said. He noted that the proposal acts as a guideline for expanding the cross-Straits exchanges and developing the cross-Straits relations. In 2000, the indirect trade volume across the Straits exceeded US$30 billion for the first time and some three million trips were made by the Taiwan compatriots to the mainland for tourist and business purposes. Meanwhile, over 60,000 persons from the mainland visited Taiwan and some 2,418 Taiwan-funded projects worth US$3.1 billion were approved on the mainland, he added. The rapid expansion of personnel, business and culture exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits created new compacts on the mainland policies of the Taiwan authorities, he said. Xing said Jiang's proposal is an important policy ensuring Taiwan compatriots' wish to be masters of their own destiny and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests. Governments at various levels on the mainland adopted a number of measures to protect the Taiwan compatriots' legitimate rights and interests and won their trust, he added. He hoped that the compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and overseas will make new contributions to China's reunification and rejuvenation, noting the Hong Kong compatriots have been making positive response to President Jiang's proposal. The forum was hosted by Hong Kong-based newspaper Wen Wei Po. Participants include Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress, the Hong Kong members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, and representatives from the Hong Kong educational and business circles. |
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