Chairman Jia Qinglin of China's top advisory body Wednesday pledged continued efforts to implement the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" to promote the reunification of the motherland.

"We must always adhere to the one-China principle and firmly oppose any form of separatist activities for 'Taiwan independence,'" Jia said in his report on the work of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

"We will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China in any form," he told the second session of the 10th CPPCC National Committee, which opened in Beijing Wednesday.

It is the common aspiration of the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation worldwide to see the reunification of the motherland, he said.

Noting that the CPPCC, with the representation of compatriots of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and returned overseas Chinese, has a unique advantage and role to play in promoting national reunification, Jia said it will continue to cooperate closely with related work units and expand personnel contacts with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as with overseas Chinese, for concerted efforts to realize the complete reunification of the motherland.

Jia also called for substantial efforts to actively promote personnel contacts and economic and cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Strait, carry forward the fine traditions of the Chinese culture, and promote the understanding and recognition of the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" among the people in Taiwan.

The CPPCC will further carry out the principle of placing hope on the Taiwan people, forge the closest possible contact and ties between the people across the Strait, and unite the patriotic forces of all ethnicities and all walks of life in Taiwan who support the reunification of the motherland.

The CPPCC will also strengthen ties with overseas Chinese, both returned home or still abroad, and their relatives to continue supporting the endeavor of Chinese all over the world to fight "Taiwan independence" for the accomplishment of the reunification cause at an early date, said its National Committee chairman.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2004)