Jia Qinglin, member of
the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the
National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference (CPPCC), delivers a speech during the opening ceremony
of the 3rd Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum at the
Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 28,
2007. The forum kicked off on Saturday.
China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin on Saturday called for further
efforts to improve direct transport services between the mainland
and Taiwan.
Jia said the mainland hopes civil aviation and shipping
organizations across the Taiwan Straits will pursue consultations
on the issue.
Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's
Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remark in a speech at the
opening ceremony of a cross-Straits forum on economic, trade and
cultural exchanges.
Direct transport links between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan
were cut off after the civil war in the late 1940s.
After years of negotiations, progress has been made in
re-establishing direct transportation between the mainland and
Taiwan.
In 2001, Fujian Province opened a direct ferry service with
Jinmen and Mazu in Taiwan. In 2006, a third direct shipping route
was opened between Fujian's Quanzhou and Jinmen.
In 2005, airline companies on the mainland and in Taiwan began
operating non-stop charter flights across the Taiwan Straits for
major traditional Chinese holidays.
Jia said passengers, airline companies and the economy all stood
to gain from weekend and regular charter flights. He called on
civil aviation organizations across the Straits to look for
solutions as soon as possible.
He also expressed the hope that directs shipping routes operated
between Fujian's coastal cities and Jinmen and Mazu would be
expanded to other ports across the Taiwan Straits.
Jia, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau
of the CPC Central Committee, also urged Taiwan authorities to make
positive efforts to promote tourism and allow mainland tourists to
visit Taiwan.
The Chinese mainland removed the travel ban on mainland
residents to Taiwan in May 2005, in order to expand
people-to-people contacts and help boost Taiwan's tourism
industry.
Since October 2006, non-governmental tourism organizations on
the mainland and in Taiwan have conducted five rounds of talks and
reached consensus on major technical issues, but no final agreement
has been reached.
Jia said he hoped the Taiwan authorities will "follow the will
of the people and adopt a practical and positive attitude" in
solving the remaining problems relating to cross-Straits
travel.
"Mainland residents traveling to Taiwan are not taking
country-to-country trips," he said.
"If Taiwan authorities sincerely support the consensus reached
between the non-governmental tourism organizations on both sides of
the straits, Taiwan routes for mainland tourists can soon be up and
running," Jia said.
Jia also warned against the "escalating danger" of "Taiwan
independence," saying it was "the most serious, dangerous and
urgent problem threatening peace and stability across the Taiwan
Straits."
He said the leaders of the Democratic Progressive Party,
Taiwan's ruling party, insisted on the radical policy of "Taiwan
independence" and kept provoking the mainland with secessionist
remarks and activities.
Jia reiterated that the Chinese mainland will continue to show
the greatest sincerity and exert the greatest efforts to promote
the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and achieve
peaceful reunification.
"But we will never tolerate 'Taiwan independence.' And never
will we allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China by any means,"
Jia said.
"We have the will, the capacity and the resources to contain
'Taiwan independence' as well as any serious 'Taiwan independence'
incidents," Jia said.
Jia recalled the landmark meeting between CPC Central Committee
General Secretary Hu Jintao and then Kuomintang Chairman Lien
Chanin April 2005, saying that the consensus of peaceful
development they reached reflects the common aspiration of people
across the Straits.
To achieve this aspiration, Jia said compatriots across the
Straits should stand firmly against "Taiwan independence."
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Also on Saturday, KMT Honorary Chairman Lien Chan urged Taiwan
authorities to open negotiations to boost cross-Straits ties.
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He said the Democratic Progressive Party is seeking "political
confrontation, economic confinement and military competition" in
handling cross-Straits relations.
He said the ruling party is also trying to cut Taiwan off from
Chinese culture and the Chinese nation, which has caused social
conflict, party confrontation and public confusion.
Such moves have also undermined Taiwan's economy, weakened
Taiwan's competitiveness, harmed Taiwan people's interests and
seriously affected peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits,
Lien said.
He said Taiwan and the mainland should sign a peace agreement
through negotiations based on the principle of the "1992
Consensus."
The "1992 Consensus" struck by the CPC and the then-incumbent
KMT endorses the one-China principle.
About 500 participants from the mainland and Taiwan are
attending the current cross-Straits forum, jointly hosted by the
CPC and the KMT.
Participants will exchange views on issues including direct
flights across the Taiwan Straits and educational and tourism
cooperation.
Hu Jintao met with Lien Chan before the two-day forum started
Saturday morning at the Great Hall of the People.
(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2007)
