Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, met with the visiting New Party delegation from Taiwan on Sunday.

"The New Party visit, under the theme of commemorating the 60th anniversary of China's victory in the resistance war against Japanese aggression, is of great significance as it stated the wishes and positions of Taiwan compatriots on safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposing 'Taiwan independence' and promoting peace and stability in cross-Straits relations," Jia said.

Jia is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee.

The New Party delegation, headed by Chairman Yok Mu-ming, is on an eight-day mainland trip to commemorate the 60th anniversary of China's victory in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

Jia recalled the history of Taiwan, which fell under Japanese rule in 1894 but recovered after China won the resistance war against Japanese aggression, and said: "History tells us that the fate of Taiwan is closely related with that of China.

"The most important message we get from this great victory 60 years ago is that we must vigorously carry forward the national ethos with patriotism at its core," Jia added.

New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming said his trip aims to show Chinese all over the world that "time may elapse, but history must not be forgotten".

"The Chinese nation won the eight-year resistance war against the Japanese and recovered Taiwan at heavy cost, including many lives. We must not be unworthy of the fruits won with their lives," Yok said.

Yok pledged that the New Party firmly opposes "Taiwan independence" and will continue to work for peaceful and steady development of cross-Straits relations, and the well-being of people on both sides of the straits.

The delegation arrived in Beijing on Sunday morning after visiting Guangzhou, Nanjing and Dalian.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2005)