The Chinese American Alliance for China's Peaceful Reunification (CAACPR) held an annual meeting in Philadelphia Saturday, setting new tasks for overseas Chinese wishing to reunify their motherland.

In an address to the meeting, Liu Guangyuan, minister counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, spoke highly of the CAACPR's unremitting efforts in promoting peace and development on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The CAACPR has scored remarkable achievements in fighting Taiwan separatists, facilitating cross-Strait personnel, trade, economic and cultural exchanges, and reinforcing the global Chinese force that opposes "Taiwan Independence" and promotes peaceful reunification, he said.

Liu added that the organization has become "an important force" in curbing Taiwan separatists' activities, safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and boosting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

The CAACPR "is playing an irreplaceable role in advancing the motherland's peaceful reunification," he said.

At the meeting, Zheng Jinguang, chairman of the 2008 CAACPR National Convention, reviewed overseas Chinese's endeavors and achievements in promoting China's peaceful reunification.

The meeting has great significance as participants will discuss "new cross-Strait situations" and set "new tasks," said Zheng, who is also president of the Pennsylvania Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China.

After the opening ceremony, several participants gave speeches at a forum on China's peaceful reunification.

Some 50 overseas Chinese groups and more than 500 representatives attended the meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2008)