In five days, it will be the 60th anniversary of Taiwan's return to the motherland after half a century of Japanese rule. Chinese people from both sides of the Taiwan Straits are expected to hold various activities to commemorate the glorious day.

On that day, Chinese leaders will join the public at a celebration rally to be held in Beijing, marking the 60th anniversary of the recovery of Taiwan.

On Oct. 25, 1945, Taiwan formerly returned to the embrace of the motherland after half a century of Japanese rule and reclaimed its Chinese identity.

After six decades, although China is not unified, Taiwan compatriots have actively participated in the cross-Straits dialogues and looked forward to Chinese reunification.

Most Taiwanese residents consider themselves to be Chinese.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), the forerunner of the democratic revolution in modern China, believed that reunification would benefit all Chinese.

Gao Zhongming, a veteran compatriot who lived in Taiwan and joined the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945), told Xinhua that the fate of Taiwan compatriots is connected to that of the motherland and that reunification can benefit the Taiwanese forever.

(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2005)