"As long as the Taiwan authorities agree to the one-China principle for the settlement of the Taiwan question we have the patience to wait," Qian told the on-going International Forum on China and the World in the 21st Century.

Qian also detailed the freedoms Taiwan would enjoy if it reunified with the mainland under the "one country, two systems" formula applied in Hong Kong and Macao.

Under this approach, Taiwan would keep its own currency, military, customs status and government structure, and Beijing would neither levy taxes or appoint mainland officials on the island,

The central government has long said it would allow Taiwan greater flexibility under the "one country, two systems" policy than Hong Kong and Macao, which were guaranteed a high degree of autonomy after returning to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 and 1999.

But Beijing had not publicly announced details of its offer.

"Taiwan may continue to use the New Taiwan Dollar, retain its armed forces, maintain its status as a separate customs territory and keep its government structure," Qian told an audience which included former world leaders.

"The mainland will not levy taxes in Taiwan, not even one cent, nor will it take any money from Taiwan," he said. "The way of life of the people in Taiwan will remain unchanged and Taiwan's entrepreneurs will have their properties intact."

"Taiwan will make independent choices on personnel matters and the mainland will not send any official to take office in Taiwan."

Qian repeated that "one country, two systems" was the only acceptable model for reunification.

He said the mainland supported the immediate reopening of direct trade, transport and postal links with Taiwan, suspended since the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war.

A Taiwan "presidential advisory panel" urged the island government last month to hold talks with the mainland on opening the "three links" within the framework of the World Trade Organization.

But Qian also stressed that Taipei must accept the "one China" principle, which he defined as: "There is but one China in the world; both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China."

The mainland has declined to renounce the use of force to settle the Taiwan issue if the island declares independence or delays reunification talks indefinitely.

But Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian has so far refused to embrace the "one-China" policy.

"We cannot afford to renounce the use of force because that would encourage Taiwan independence elements and would then make peaceful reunification impossible to achieve," Qian said.

(China Daily 09/11/2001)