Mainland commemorates major policy change on Taiwan 30 years ago -- china.org.cn

The Chinese mainland commemorated the 30th anniversary of the announcement of Message to Compatriots in Taiwan in Beijing Wednesday with a ceremony attended by three top leaders including President Hu Jintao.

The Standing Committee of National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, issued the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan on Jan. 1, 1979.

Photo taken on Dec. 31, 2008 shows a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the announcement of Message to Compatriots in Taiwan held in Beijing, capital of China. The Chinese mainland commemorated the 30th anniversary of the announcement of Message to Compatriots in Taiwan here Wednesday with a ceremony attended by three top leaders including President Hu Jintao. (Xinhua Photo)

Photo taken on Dec. 31, 2008 shows a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the announcement of Message to Compatriots in Taiwan held in Beijing, capital of China. [Xinhua]

In this statement, the mainland proposed to end the military confrontation across the Taiwan Strait through dialog and welcomed exchanges between the two sides.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the ceremony with Jia Qinglin, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, also present.

"The landmark statement elaborated our new policy on Taiwan issue and has brought the cross-Strait relations into a new stage," said Li Jianguo, deputy chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, in a speech at the ceremony.

In the statement, the NPC made it clear that the mainland would "respect the current situation in Taiwan and the opinions of Taiwan people when dealing with the issue of reunification, and would adopt rational policies and approaches to avoid causing Taiwan people any loss or hazards."

The statement also welcomed Taiwan compatriots to "come to the mainland to visit families and friends, for tourist visits and for economic exchanges".

Lin Wenyi, vice-chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) said that the cross-Strait relationship has seen major breakthroughs in the past year.

"The most important thing for both sides of the Taiwan Strait is to promote the peaceful development of the cross-Strait relationship, and realize the peaceful reunification of the country, " said Lin, also chairwoman of Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TSL).

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2008)