CPPCC Firmly Opposes Separatism: Ye

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's united front organization, will firmly follow the principles of "peaceful reunification; one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal advanced by President Jiang Zemin, unite all the patriotic forces that support the reunification of the motherland and resolutely oppose any separatist attempt and scheme.

Ye Xuanping, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, made the pledge in his report on the work of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee to the Fourth Session of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee, which opened in Beijing Saturday, March 3.

Over the past year, Ye said, the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee offered active cooperation with the central authorities in the general arrangements of work toward Taiwan in the light of the changes in the political situation in Taiwan and, by holding forums and lectures and during reception of foreign visitors or foreign tours by CPPCC members, actively disseminated the principles of "peaceful reunification; one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal advanced by President Jiang Zemin.

Together with other departments, the CPPCC National Committee organized a cross-Straits seminar of opposing Taiwan independence and promoting the peaceful reunification of the motherland" and issued a joint statement, carried out active exchanges with parties, groups and personalities of Taiwan that advocate for "one China", and gave full scope to the role as a bridge of CPPCC members and other personalities of Hong Kong and Macao and overseas Chinese and worked together with them to promote the great cause of peaceful reunification of the motherland.

The CPPCC National Committee will, by exploiting fully the extensive contacts and smooth communications channels of the CPPCC, continue to promote the economic and cultural exchanges and the exchange of visits between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and strengthen its ties with overseas Chinese and work together for the great cause of the peaceful reunification of the motherland. It will organize activities to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution and further display the spirit of Dr. Sun Yat- sen and other revolutionaries who dedicated themselves to the unification of the country, national unity and invigoration of the Chinese nation.

West Development

Since the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) launched the strategy to develop the western region, all participating organizations of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), CPPCC members and CPPCC committees at all levels have unanimously supported it, and vigorously worked to make helpful comments and suggestions.

Delivering the report on the work of the Standing Committee of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee, Ye said that during the Third Session of the Ninth National Committee of the CPPCC held last March, non-communist parties and CPPCC members submitted the texts of 128 speeches and 128 proposals concerning development of the western region.

After the session, the General Office of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee invited leading cadres of departments concerned to make reports for CPPCC members, invited experts and scholars to forums, and organized more than 10 inspection tours to investigate the situation.

The CPPCC members are greatly concerned about a number of issues including major transportation facilities between the northwest and the southwest of China, economic cooperation between the eastern and western regions, adjustment of agricultural production, protection of water resources, development of water conservancy infrastructure facilities, environmental protection, anti-poverty programs, development of small towns, and reforming state-owned enterprises and making them profitable, Ye noted.

Special committees under the CPPCC National Committee carried out researches on different issues concerning the development of west China, according to the vice chairman.

The Committee of Population, Resources and the Environment conducted a series of investigations on water resources in northwest and southwest China, invited over 130 CPPCC members and experts to discuss the issue, and prepared an investigative report on water resources, protection and improvement of the environment, and the quantity and quality of the population.

In the "Suggestions for Poverty-Relief in Guizhou Province Through Launching Water Conservation Projects During the Tenth Five-Year Plan Period" and other reports, the committee pointed out that water shortages greatly restrict agriculture and overall economic development in the rural areas of some provinces and impede poverty-relief efforts among farmers.

The committee proposed that this poverty-relief program be carried out within the framework of the overall strategy for the development of the western region.

In its investigative report, the Committee of Education, Science, Culture, Health and Sports made suggestions about ways for improving regional planning, controlling population growth, carrying out development in an environmentally friendly way, and learning from the development of the eastern region in the development of the western region.

The Committee for Social and Legal Affairs conducted investigations concerning the legal environment for the development of the western region and suggested that laws need to be passed to ensure that development is carried out in accordance with the law and that development bring about great progress. In its report entitled "Several Issues Concerning Ethnic and Religious Work Requiring Close Attention in the Development of the Western Region," The Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs put forward several suggestions about ways to improve preferential policies designed to stimulate economic development in ethnic minority areas, formulate principles for allocating benefits from development between the central authorities and the areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, accelerate anti-poverty work, and establish an incentive mechanism for rewarding outstanding contributions.

The CPPCC National Committee members from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region set up a research group and made suggestions for Hong Kong's role in the development of the western region and on how to attract overseas investment to the western region.

The Committee of Cultural and Historical Data organized the compilation and printing of historical information about the development of the western region since the emergence of modern industry in China.

Participants of the tenth meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee discussed issues concerning the development of the western region on the basis of thorough investigations by members and the special committees, and the central committees of all the democratic parties, all special committees, members of the Standing Committee present at the meeting and some local CPPCC committees presented the texts of 99 speeches.

On the basis of thorough discussions, the Standing Committee prepared and submitted to the central government a report entitled "Comments and Suggestions Concerning Implementation of the Strategy of Developing the Western Region."

Ye acknowledged the complexity and the long time requirements of the development of the western region, and said that no one should be overanxious for success and rush blindly into action. Development should be carried out in a planned, organized, prioritized way, he added.

Development policies should be formulated based on a principle of material benefits in order to stimulate the participation of all sectors of society, he said, urging that the ownership structure in the western region needs to be readjusted to promote the development of the non-public economy sector.

The capacity of the environment to sustain development must be taken into consideration, and population growth needs to be controlled, the vice chairman said, noting that ethnic and religious affairs must be handled carefully and people of ethnic minorities must be assured of receiving tangible benefits from the development of the western region.

Achievements in 2000

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's united front organization, made new achievements in the past year, CPPCC National Committee Vice-chairman Ye Xuanping said.

In his report delivered at the opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee, Ye hailed the fulfillment of China's Ninth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and attainment of the strategic objectives for the second stage of the country's socialist modernization drive, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core.

In 2000, he said, the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee held two meetings and two forums, which put forward many constructive comments and suggestions concerning the formulation of the Tenth Five-Year Plan and the implementation of the strategy for developing the western region.

Nearly half of the members of the CPPCC National Committee were organized into 50 groups to carry out investigations concerning implementation of the state's major policies and major issues of common concern. Thanks to the support of all departments concerned, 97 percent of the proposals have been handled, Ye said.

The Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee also expanded contacts with people from all circles in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and with overseas Chinese, "especially with our compatriots in Taiwan," he said.

In the past year, friendly ties with foreign organizations and people were also expanded, the vice-chairman said, adding that exchanges of the CPPCC with other countries at different levels and through various channels became more active.

Ties with Foreign Organizations

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will further expand friendly contacts with other countries, in the new year, said Ye.

Ye said the CPPCC expanded its diplomatic activities in a planned way over the past year. Chairman Li Ruihuan paid official goodwill visits to Canada, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago and Peru. Several vice chairmen of the CPPCC National Committee led delegations to visit other countries or attend international conferences.

At the invitation of the CPPCC National Committee, a number of foreign dignitaries visited China, including the chairman of the senate of Romania, the chairman of the Economic and Social Council of Guinea, the chairman of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of Mali, the deputy speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, two princesses of Thailand.html target=_blank>Thailand, and honorary chairpersons of the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and similar organizations and international associations.

In all, the CPPCC National Committee sent 14 delegations to 27 countries and received 14 delegations from 13 countries and established friendly relations with 9 institutions in 5 countries in 2000.

The CPPCC National Committee had, by the end of February 2001, established friendly contacts with 132 institutions in 81 countries and 4 international and regional organizations.

These friendly exchanges have enhanced the international community's understanding of China, expanded the influence of China's system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and helped create a favorable international environment for China's socialist modernization drive, Ye noted.

The CPPCC also sponsored Conference 2000 of the 21st Century Forum with "Economic Globalization: Asia and China" as its theme. Statesmen, experts, scholars and entrepreneurs from 22 countries, some of the members of the CPPCC National Committee, and Chinese scholars discussed development trends in Asia and China and issues important to developing countries in the process of economic globalization, he noted.

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