BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The world media and the international community gave favorable response to Chinese President Hu Jintao's proposals on promoting peaceful development of the cross-Straits relations. Ethnic Chinese in Britain, Portugal, the United States and other countries hailed the proposals as "pragmatic, sincere, flexible and full of new ideas."

    OVERSEAS CHINESE LAUD "PRAGMATIC, SINCERE" PROPOSALS

    Ethnic Chinese in Britain have paid close attention to Hu's address delivered at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the mainland's "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan", and said the central government's "foresighted and pragmatic" attitude on cross-Straits relations touched a chord with them.

    Shan Sheng, head of the UK Chinese Association for the Promotion of National Reunification, said the six proposals not only sum up cross-Straits relations in the past 30 years, but also serve as a guiding framework for the relations in the coming 30 years.

    The proposals of reaching peace agreements and jointly promoting Chinese culture are two new ideas, he said.

    The 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization will serve as a link to unite the Chinese on both sides of the Straits, and their ethnic kinship, which can be best described as "blood is thicker than water," will enhance cross-Straits cooperation, he said.

    Zhou Keming, president of Sichuan Association of the UK, said Hu's proposals were "very pragmatic," adding they are of profound historic significance for the long-term development of the cross-Straits relations.

    President Hu's proposal of ending hostility is of great importance to the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, he added.

    Deputy chairman of the Portugal Chinese Chamber of Business Jian Wenda, also a Taiwan compatriot, said Hu's proposals were more pragmatic and substantial than ever. As the proposals are all the more in line with their interests, Taiwan compatriots will find them more acceptable, he added. .

    "The proposals take into account the common interest of people on both sides of the Straits and will be the best approach to national reunification," he said.

    Hu's proposal on establishing a military security mechanism of mutual trust and discuss with Taiwan "proper and reasonable arrangements" for its participation in international organizations will surely be well received by Taiwan compatriots as the proposals comply with their wishes and helped dispel their misgivings, he said.

    Shen Jiyao, honorary president of the National Association for China's Peaceful Unification in Washington DC, said Hu's proposals, which took Taiwan compatriots' interests into full account, were full of goodwill.

    He said he was convinced that the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations will have even brighter prospects.

    Wu Huiqiu, president of the organization, said Hu's proposals are in the fundamental interests of the entire Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots, and would win the support from overseas Chinese.

    Liu Qing, executive president of the Federation of the National Association for China's Peaceful Unification in Southern California, said Hu's proposal will further the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations within a new and more flexible framework.

    He noted that while stressing the one-China principle, Hu made the first direct mention of the Democratic Progressive Party, the so-called "Taiwan consciousness," Taiwan's participation in international organizations and other sensitive issues. These are indication of a more flexible attitude on the part of mainland leadership towards cross-Straits relations.

    Zhang Wenji, executive director of the Los Angeles-based Institute for Sino Strategic Studies, said Hu's proposals showed that the mainland set great store by the wishes of people in Taiwan. Many issues mentioned such as facilitating economic cooperation, broadening exchanges, Taiwan's participation in international organizations and a cross-Straits peace accord have been major concerns for the many on the island, said Zhang, who is also a professor at the University of Southern California.

    Steven Wong, executive chairman of the Unified Organization of Overseas Chinese Associations of New York, said Hu's speech not only showed mainland's goodwill and intention for peaceful reunification through negotiations on an equal footing, but also, on the basis of the one-China principle, made breakthrough by touching on some issues that have never been mentioned before, such as the appeals to the Democratic Progressive Party and the settlement of historic issues.

    OVERSEAS MEDIA: PROPOSALS CONDUCIVE TO REGIONAL PEACE AND STABILITY

    The international community and overseas media also spoke highly of Hu's address. Singapore's Foreign Ministry Thursday said it welcomed Hu's six-point proposals aimed at promoting the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, adding that they mark a significant step forward.

    Hu's proposals have undoubtedly provided a historic opportunity for ending the tensions across the Straits, which will benefit all the Chinese people on both sides of the Straits and contribute to stability and prosperity for all, the ministry said in a statement.

    Singapore's Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao said in an editorial Saturday that Hu's speech demonstrated mainland's new concepts and approaches to the Taiwan issue.

    Proposals such as ending hostility and reaching peace agreements under the one-China principle, and establishing a military security mechanism of mutual trust show that the mainland hopes cross-Straits relations could be more enduring, the paper added.

    In its report, Itar-Tass, Russia's official news agency, noted that President Hu pledged continued support for Taiwan enterprises in doing business on the mainland, and encouraged mainland companies to invest in Taiwan.

    The Los Angeles-based Chinese Biz News said in an editorial that Hu's proposals are a clear indication of the mainland's goodwill and will indeed serve as a medium- and long-term guideline for the mainland's Taiwan policy.

    The proposals offer much substantive goodwill and once the cross-Straits military security mechanism of mutual trust has been set up, the tragic scenes of a military conflict between compatriots will not reoccur, the editorial said.

    Other major international media outlets, including the Associated Press, Reuters, AFP, the Interfax and Kyodo News, also gave heavy coverage of Hu's address, and made analysis and comments on his proposals on cross-Straits relations.

    Their coverage mostly focused on Hu's proposal for the two sides to make "contacts on appropriate occasions" on the military issues and on establishing a military security mutual trust mechanism.

    AFP noted that the proposal for military contacts across the Straits is another sign of markedly improved cross-Straits relations. Kyodo news agency of Japan said the proposals would lead to further easing of tension between the two sides.




Hu Jintao's speech on Taiwan draws positive comments 

   BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scholars and businessmen have hailed Hu Jintao's latest speech on Taiwan affairs, hoping that the mainland and Taiwan could have more communication and cooperation in 2009.

    On the new year's eve, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Hu Jintao made a speech at a ceremony to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the mainland's "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan", in which he made six proposals to promote the peaceful development of the cross-Straits relationship. Full story

Taiwan newspaper says Hu's cross-Straits proposals positive

    TAIPEI, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Daily News, one of the biggest newspapers in Taiwan, said in an editorial on Friday that the six proposals put forward by Hu Jintao on the cross-Straits relationship are "positive" and "explicit".

    The editorial said that people in Taiwan mostly hold positive opinions about the six proposals, made by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Hu Jintao on New Year's Eve, and see goodwill and understanding in them. Full story

Chinese mainland to seize opportunity to promote cross-Straits peaceful development: official 

   BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland official in charge of Taiwan affairs said on Thursday that the mainland would seize "current opportunities" to promote the peaceful development across the Taiwan Straits, firmly safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity and "fundamental interest of the Chinese nation."

    Wang Yi, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, told a seminar that the mainland would spare no efforts to "create a framework for the cross-Strait peaceful development".Full story 

President Hu offers six proposals for peaceful development of cross-Strait relationship

    The President's speech on the new year's eve came after the mainland and Taiwan realized historical direct links of transport, trade and post services.

    Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, sent a message in his speech which urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to "clearly understand the situation and stop secessionist activities". Full story 

Chinese President Hu Jintao addresses a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the announcement of Message to Compatriots in Taiwan, held in Beijing, capital of China, on Dec. 31, 2008. The Chinese mainland commemorated the 30th anniversary of the announcement of Message to Compatriots in Taiwan here Wednesday with a ceremony. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Mainland commemorates major policy change on Taiwan 30 years ago

    BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland commemorated the 30th anniversary of its "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan" here Wednesday with a ceremony attended by three top leaders, including President Hu Jintao.

    The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, issued the "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan" on Jan. 1, 1979.   Full story

Chinese mainland announces ten measures for co-op with Taiwan

    SHANGHAI, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland announced here on Sunday 10 measures of economic cooperation with Taiwan aimed at jointly coping with the global financial crisis.

    The measures include the support for the development of Taiwanese-funded companies in the mainland, promotion of two-way investment and so on, said Wang Yi, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, at the conclusion of the 4th Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum. Full story

Chinese mainland, Taiwan start direct links after 59 years

Passengers from southeast China's Taiwan gesture before boarding the plane at the airport in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 15, 2008. A Shenzhen Airlines flight took off from the Shenzhen Airport for Taiwan at 7:20 Beijing Time (2320 GMT Dec. 14), the first when the Chinese mainland and Taiwan started direct air and sea transport and postal services Monday morning. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland and Taiwan started direct air and sea transport and postal services on Monday amid warming ties, ending a 59-year ban on such links.

    Formerly, air and sea movements -- including mail -- had to go by way of a third place.

    The direct daily transport started as a mainland-based Shenzhen Airlines flight took off from the Shenzhen Airport for Taipei at 7:20 a.m.(2320 GMT Sunday), which was followed by a Taiwan-based TransAsia Airways jetliner from Taipei to Shanghai. Full story

Mainland panda pair leave for Taiwan

Photo taken on Dec. 11, 2008 shows the giant Pandas Tuan Tuan (L) and Yuan Yuan, who will be sent to Taiwan, eat bamboos in a breeding base in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province. This pair of giant pandas is scheduled to travel to the Taiwan island on Dec. 23. They are expected to meet the public at the Spring Festival, the Chinese lunar new year, but that will depend on how they adapt to the new environment. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    YA'AN, Sichuan, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- A pair of giant pandas offered by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan left here Tuesday for the island.

    The pandas left Ya'an, Sichuan, at around 8:20 a.m. in an enclosed truck. They would first be transported to Sichuan's provincial capital of Chengdu, about 120 km from Ya'an, and then be flown to Taiwan on Tuesday afternoon. Full story

Mainland, Taiwan hold economic, cultural forum

The 4th Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum between the Chinese mainland and southeast China's Taiwan begins in Shanghai, east China, Dec. 20, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    SHANGHAI, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The 4th Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan began here Saturday morning.

    Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, and Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung and Honorary Chairman Lien Chan attended. Full story