Taiwan to benefit from support of strong motherland

People in Taiwan can enjoy better lives and have greater space for development since they have the support of a strong motherland to rely on, China's top political adviser Wang Yang said on Wednesday.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remark while addressing the 14th Straits Forum in Xiamen, Fujian province. The annual forum has 43 events and has attracted around 2,000 people from Taiwan to attend.

Hailing the forum as a grand event of people-to-people exchanges across the Taiwan Straits, Wang said remarks made by Taiwan compatriots at the forum truly reflected their common aspiration for national reunification.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, replied on Monday to some young people from Taiwan attending the 20th Straits Youth Forum, a sub-activity of the Straits Forum, reflecting his care for young people from Taiwan, he said.

Wang said that young people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits should work together and encourage more young people from Taiwan to come to the mainland to pursue, build and realize their dreams, contributing to the great process of national rejuvenation.

Stressing that people on both sides of the Straits are one family, Wang said that since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the mainland has been promoting peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, with particular adherence to the 1992 Consensus which embodies the one-China principle.

Efforts have been made to improve the systems and policies ensuring the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, and that they enjoy equal treatment on the mainland, and favorable conditions have been created for them to work, start businesses and live on the mainland, he said.

Wang said as long as the island's administration recognizes the 1992 Consensus, cross-Straits relations can improve and develop, and Taiwan compatriots will benefit from it.

However, Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities have been obstructing cross-Straits people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation for their own interests and such attempts will not succeed, Wang added.

Wang called on compatriots in Taiwan to clearly see the trend of cross-Straits relations, firmly stand on the right side of history and oppose all separatist acts for "Taiwan independence".

Hsia Li-yan, a vice-chairman of the Kuomintang party, said in a video address that the Straits Forum has played a positive role in alleviating tensions across the Straits, responding to the desire of people on both sides for peace and exchanges, and improving cross-Straits relations.

The KMT will continue to promote cross-Straits exchanges and dialogue on the basis of the 1992 Consensus and remain committed to opposing "Taiwan independence", while carrying out work that is conducive to cross-Straits stability and development, he said.

Wu Cheng-tien, chairman of Taiwan's New Party, said at the forum that the two sides should carry out exchanges in an all-around way and reach the goal of peaceful reunification through consultation and negotiation.

During Wang Yang's stay in Fujian, he also visited an exhibition in Xiamen featuring the history of relations between Fujian and Taiwan, and inspected a base for cross-Straits startups and Taiwan-funded enterprises in Zhangzhou.

Wang said during the visit that deepening the integrated development of the two sides meets the common aspirations of compatriots and is a necessary way to achieve the peaceful reunification of the motherland. He called for relevant departments to implement the policies and measures by the central leadership to benefit people from Taiwan.