The first preparatory meeting for the China Peace Development Association (CPDA) was held in Pingtan, an island county in Fujian province, on Dec 15. Over 80 representatives from Hong Kong, Macao, the United States and the Philippines attended the meeting.

The meeting approved the association's emblem, flag, song, journal, website, and its rules and regulations. Major officials were also elected. Li Yuming, chairman of the Philippines Xieli Group, was elected president. Liu Dongming, the association's secretary, presided over the meeting.

The CPDA will adhere to the principles of "self-organizing, self-managing, self-electing, self-operating and self-financing". It will build up extensive contact networks on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan and amongst overseas Chinese groups. All walks of life will work together to explore a peaceful way for China unification and promote non-government cross-Straits communication and cooperation.

Li said under the guidance of the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the CPDA will fight against "Taiwan independence" and safeguard China unification. It will enhance cross-Straits trust, interaction and cooperation. Based on cooperation, the CPDA will seek peace and development to benefit cross-Straits people through common prosperity.

After the meeting, the delegation visited Xieli (Pingtan) Scientific Company and the Haixia ship in the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Michael Thai