Chinese in US call for peaceful cross-Strait development

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-02 15:15

HOUSTON: Overseas Chinese at a forum here on Sunday called for deepened mutual trust and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits so as to create a brighter future for China's peaceful reunification.

The 2009 Global Forum on China's Peaceful Development, which concluded on Sunday, was aimed at promoting peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and promoting China's reunification.

The delegates, mostly from organizations of overseas Chinese supportive of China's reunification, agreed at the forum that peace and development across the Taiwan Straits are in the interests of the Chinese nation and all Chinese people.

They called on their compatriots to oppose all kinds of "Taiwan Independence" forces and expressed confidence that China's reunification will be achieved through concerted efforts from all Chinese people.

The forum was of "great significance" because it was held at an important point in the development of cross-Strait relationship, Zhou Wenzhong, China's ambassador to the United States, said in a written statement to the forum.

Cross-Strait relations reached a historic turn in 2008 and is now on the right track, Zhou said.

In May 2008, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Hu Jintao met in Beijing with then Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung from Taiwan.

The meeting accelerated the assumption of talks between the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits(ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), two organizations authorized to handle cross-Strait issues.

In three rounds of talks since June 2008, the ARATS and the SEF signed agreements on tourism, direct shipping, air transport, postal services, food safety, regular flights, cooperation in finance and fighting crimes.

As long as the two sides abide by the principles of "establishing mutual trust, seeking common ground while reserving differences, setting aside disputes, and creating a win-win situation" and adhere to the "1992 Consensus" which states that both sides should adhere to the "one China" policy, the Chinese mainland and Taiwan will be able to create a new environment for future relations, Gao Yanping, Chinese consul general in Houston, told the forum.

The latest developments in cross-Strait relations are in line with the historical trend and reflect common aspiration of compatriots across the Taiwan Straits, said Liu Guangyuan, minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in the United States.

"As long as both sides across the Taiwan Straits stay in the direction of peaceful development and pool the strength of all 'anti-independence' forces, cross-Strait relations will have a better future," he said.

Texas statesmen, including Texas Governor Rick Perry and Houston Mayor Bill White, sent their greetings to the forum, wishing to further develop US-China relations and peaceful development across the Taiwan Straits.

"I know this forum will be of great benefit, as you share expertise and develop ideas" on the peaceful growth of economic ties across the Taiwan Straits, as well as "brainstorm ways to further build on the strong bonds between China and the United States," Perry said in a written statement.

The three-day forum, sponsored by the Washington-based National Association for China's Peaceful Unification, was attended by over200 delegates, including representatives of overseas Chinese groups, government officials from China, and scholars on cross-Strait relations.

The association was founded in 2002 in Chicago with the aim of pushing forward China's peaceful reunification and fighting "Taiwan independence" forces that endanger the cross-Strait relations and world peace.