Tourism Personnel Refute Lee Teng-hui's Remarks

BEIJING, August 9 (Xinhua) -- People connected with the tourist industry gathered here today to refute Lee Teng-hui's splittist statements.

Sun Gang, deputy head of the National Tourism Administration, said at the meeting that Lee Teng-hui's "two states" remark revealed his splittist desire, and has damaged the basis for promotion of cross-straits relations and the reunification of the motherland.

Sun said, "We greatly treasure the present situation of cross- straits relations fostered over the past decades."
He added that between 1988 and 1998, the number of Taiwan compatriots coming to the mainland as tourists and for visiting relatives reached 14.66 million, and in the first half of this year, the number of arrivals by Taiwan compatriots was 1.23 million, up 19.52 percent over the same period last year.

Sun pointed out that criticism of the "two states" remark is directed at Lee Teng-hui and a small number of splittists in Taiwan.

He emphasized that "we welcome more Taiwan compatriots to visit the famous scenic spots in inland areas, and we will ensure their legitimate rights and interests."

During today's meeting, representatives from the tourism association, hotel association, and travel agencies expressed their support of the CPC Central Committee's basic principles of " peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems," as well as the inviolability of the country's sovereignty and territory.