Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), urged Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to join hands to contribute to China's reunification cause.

The CPPCC chairman made the remark in Beijing Friday while meeting a delegation of Taiwan ethnic groups for cultural exchanges.

Jia said that Taiwan-based ethnic groups and their counterparts in the Chinese mainland have jointly contributed to form a distinctive Chinese culture featured by unity, honesty and constantly striving to become stronger.

China's new generation of leaders continues to hold the principle of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" for the uniting of China's mainland and Taiwan.

He also said that all legitimate rights of Taiwan compatriots and their wishes of administrating their hometowns will be fully respected in the process of and in the wake of reunification.

Peace, stability and development are what Taiwan compatriots really need now. People on both sides of the Taiwan Straits should improve economic, trade and cultural exchanges between, and fight against separatist activities in any form, Jia said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2003)