Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said in Beijing that the New Party has made positive contributions to improving the relations across the Taiwan Straits.

"It's very praiseworthy for you to do so and we very much appreciate your efforts," said Hu when meeting with a visiting delegation of the Taiwan-based New Party headed by Chairman Yok Mu-ming at the Great Hall of the People on Tuesday afternoon.

Hu said that the New Party is one of Taiwan's important political forces that cannot be ignored.

The New Party has always stuck to the one-China position, opposed "Taiwan independence" and upheld the great banner of national ethos, opposing splitting Taiwan from the Chinese territory and standing for peaceful reunification of the nation, said Hu. 

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

"It is the common political proposition and the goal of our two parties to firmly oppose 'Taiwan independence' and promote peaceful reunification of the country," Hu said.

He pledged that the CPC will continue to work with the New Party to resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and their activities, thus safeguarding peace and stability across the Straits and promoting the improvement and development of cross-Straits relations.

He said China would firmly cherish and safeguard the peace and thus inspire the whole Chinese people to better devote themselves into the great cause of revitalizing the Chinese nation.

Sixty years ago, said Hu, after fighting hard battles and making great national sacrifices, the Chinese people had at last beaten the Japanese militarism and won the great victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945) and had Taiwan returned to the motherland after 50 years' Japanese colonial occupation.  

He said the victory marks the first complete success of the Chinese nation in fighting against foreign invasion in its modern history and the spirit demonstrated in the war is the true Chinese ethos and the great spiritual power that encourage the Chinese nation to develop and grow.

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2005)