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.

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>>>

    Zhou Zhihuai, executive vice president of National Society on Taiwan Studies, said that Hu's speech has combined the "one country, two systems" policy and the practice in the development of cross-strait relations.

    "His remarks have made the path of peaceful reunification clearer and will be of historical significance in the progress of the cross-strait relations," he said.

    Hu Youqing, vice president of All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, said the Hu's speech will certainly receive positive responses from Taiwan.

    "Hu's speech has answered some specific issues which people in Taiwan are mostly concerned about and proposed methods to promote the cross-strait relations with very a sincere attitude," Hu Youqing said.

    Wu Nengyuan, director of institute of Taiwan studies with Fujian Academy of Social Science, expressed faith that people living on both the mainland and Taiwan would cherish the opportunities in year of 2009 and build on the significant progress in cross-strait exchanges made in 2008.

    A famous artist Wang Chengxi suggested that the mainland and Taiwan should strengthen their ties by increasing communication inc ultural sectors since the common cultural background shared by both sides could more easily arouse spiritual attachment and sympathetic response.

    Wang Wei, director of archeological institute with the Chinese Academy of Social Science, said that Hu's speech would promote academic and cultural exchange between the mainland and Taiwan. "All compatriots should join hands to continue the Chinese civilizations that has lasted for more than 5,000 years."

    Kong Fanbing, a senior technical officer with the mainland-based Datang Telecom Technology Co. Ltd., said that Hu's speech will also benefit economic cooperation between the two sides.

    "It is predictable that mainland telecom cooperation with Taiwan is very likely to be included in cross-strait economic cooperation mechanism in the future," Kong said.

    "As a telecom professional, I look forward to the establishment of a mechanism to share technological resources between the mainland and Taiwan," he said.




World media, oversea Chinese give favorable response to Hu's proposals on cross-Straits ties 

   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."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 

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