General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Hu Jintao called on people on both the mainland and Taiwan to firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" and jointly promote the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation during his meeting with visiting New Party delegation from Taiwan Tuesday afternoon.

Referring to the development of the relationship across the Taiwan Straits, Hu gave four points of view.

Jointly promote great rejuvenation of Chinese nation

"History and reality tell us that backwardness incurs beatings by others. Only through development can rejuvenation be realized," Hu said after recalling China's victory in the resistance war against Japanese aggression 60 years ago.

Hu, who is also Chinese President and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said China was bullied by foreign powers in modern times. A major reason for that was that China was chronically poor and weak during that period.

As competition in comprehensive national power in the world now is becoming increasingly fierce, he said, the two sides of the Taiwan Straits need each other more than ever and also have better conditions to join hands to seek common development.

He called on "compatriots on both sides of the Straits" to seize the precious opportunity at present to jointly promote the development and prosperity of the Chinese nation with one heart so as to realize the great rejuvenation of the whole Chinese nation in its true sense.

One China principle must be maintained

Hu said the one China principle, which calls for unity of the whole nation, is essential in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

"The one China principle must be maintained. China must not be separated. The Chinese nation must not be separated. We have to be clear on these major principles," he said.

He said both sides will benefit from unity and suffer from separation. The two sides should seek reconciliation and cooperation to realize a win-win situation and common development instead of antagonism and confrontation.

"Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits may well resolve their contradictions and issues and jointly work for a better future in the development of cross-Straits relations on the bases of the one China principle," said Hu.

Firmly oppose and check "Taiwan independence"

Hu said positive factors conducive to checking "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities have grown to some extent in the recent period, but noted the battle to oppose and check "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities remains severe and complicated.

He said the mainland has repeatedly stressed opposing "Taiwan independence" because it believes the matter has bearings on the overall condition of national development and also on the social stability and interests of people in Taiwan.

"'Taiwan independence' is a dead-end alley," said Hu. "Opposing 'Taiwan independence' is way of loving Taiwan in the real sense."

Only when "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities are checked, said Hu, can peace and stability be in the Taiwan Straits and a stable environment for economic and social development be maintained.

Earnestly taking care of and safeguarding immediate interests of Taiwan compatriots

Hu said Taiwan compatriots, no matter if they are natives of Taiwan or other provinces, are all "our compatriots of the same flesh and blood".

"We respect them, trust them, rely on them, think for them by putting ourselves in their positions and adopting every means to care for and protect their legitimate rights and benefits under whatever circumstances," said Hu.

"On March 4 this year, I put forward views and suggestions on boosting personnel, economic and cultural exchanges across the Straits," said Hu.

He said a series of new polices and measures were announced during the visits of the Chinese Kuomintang Party Chairman Lien Chan and People First Party Chairman James Soong.

"We are sincere about and will conscientiously carry out all our promises to the Taiwan compatriots," he said.

During the meeting, Hu said that the New Party has made positive contributions to improving the relations across the Taiwan Straits.

Hu said the CPC is ready to join hands with the New Party to promote the peaceful reunification of the motherland to benefit the compatriots across the Taiwan Straits.

Yok Mu-ming, New Party Chairman, said the delegation has experienced a period of China's past history and also envisioned the bright future of the Chinese nation during visits to many places.

He said Chinese people on both sides of the Straits should seize the opportunity to jointly work for the elevation of Chinese culture and fully devote themselves to social and economic development.

Yok called the 21st century a century that will witness the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Since arriving on the mainland on July 6, the 30-member delegation has toured Guangzhou, Nanjing and Dalian before coming to Beijing. The eight-day trip bears the theme of commemorating the 60th anniversary of China's victory in the resistance war against Japanese aggression. It is also dubbed as "a journey of the Chinese nation".

Yok is the third Taiwanese party leader to visit the mainland since April, closely following the visits of the Chinese Kuomintang Party Chairman Lien Chan and People First Party Chairman James Soong.

(Xinhua News Agency July 13, 2005)