Former Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing addresses a seminar held in Beijing on Monday to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the USA and China. [Photo China.org.cn]

By Zhou Jing
China.org.cn staff reporter

The Taiwan question, which concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, is a question of core concern for China. The peaceful reunification of two sides of the Taiwan Straits would serve the interests of the United States and the rest of the international community, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said on Monday.

At a seminar to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Mr He said the peaceful reunification of two sides of the Taiwan Straits represents the shared aspiration of people on both sides of the Straits.

He said under new circumstances, "we will take the principle that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China as the political foundation, work through increasing exchanges cooperation, consultation and negotiation, and rely on our shared national identity to promote peaceful development and bring about progress in cross-Straits relations."

In a few days, President-elect Barack Obama will take office in the US, he said. China hopes the US side will adhere to the one-China policy, abide by the three China-US joint communiqués, honor the commitment of opposing "Taiwan independence" and Taiwan's accession to any international organization whose membership requires statehood, handle the Taiwan issue prudently and properly, and support the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations with concrete actions.

He also said what has happened in the past shows that although differences are not the mainstream of two countries' relations, if not handled properly, they could still harm the overall interests of the relationship. The only way to properly address sensitive issues between the two is to conduct consultations on an equal footing and seek common ground while putting aside differences.

China's vice-foreign minister He Yafei addresses a seminar held in Beijing on Monday to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the USA and China. [Photo China.org.cn]

Former Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing also attended the seminar and highlighted the importance of Taiwan question for China and the US relations in his speech, saying that all China's 1.3 billion people are concerned about the Taiwan question.

He said it is very important that cross-Straits relations continue to develop actively. Under such conditions, arms sales to Taiwan are definitely unhelpful.

Former State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan also said the two countries should properly handle issues that concern China's core interests so as to safeguard the larger interests of China-US relations.

The Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs held a seminar in Beijing on Monday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US. Over 250 leaders, diplomats and experts including former US President Jimmy Carter, former Chinese vice-Premier Qian Qichen, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former US National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski and former Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, attended the conference and delivered speeches.

(China.org.cn January 12, 2009)