Fellow Compatriots,
Comrades and Friends,

Nine years ago, Comrade Jiang Zemin made an important speech entitledContinuing to Endeavor for the Accomplishment of the Grand Cause of Reunification of the Motherland.Inheriting and building on Comrade Deng Xiaoping's thinking of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems", the speech put forward an eight-point proposal on the development of cross-straits relations and the advancement of peaceful national reunification, which embodies both the resolve and the sincerity of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese Government to unite with the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to accomplish peaceful reunification.The speech is the programmatic document for the solution of theTaiwanquestion.The past nine years saw an extraordinary course of development of cross-straits relations with many twists and turns.Today, as we reread this speech, we feel all the more keenly its historical and immediate significance for promoting cross-straits relations and peaceful reunification.

Over the past nine years, we have firmly and persistently implemented the basic policy of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal, facilitated stronger cross-straits relations through the adoption of many positive and pragmatic policies and measures.Today, exchanges between the compatriots on both sides are closer and more dynamic.Every year, over three million visits to China's mainland are made by Taiwan compatriots, and hundreds of thousands of Taiwan compatriots are working, studying or living on the mainland. The number of mainland compatriots traveling toTaiwanfor family reunion or exchanges of various kinds has also increased year after year.Cultural, educational, scientific and technological contacts and exchanges across the Straits are frequent, and trade and economic cooperation between the two sides are particularly fruitful.The yearly two-way trade has broken the US$50 billion record.The mainland, which has long been the largest source ofTaiwan's trade surplus, is nowTaiwan's largest export market.Taiwanhas become the mainland's second largest import market.More and moreTaiwancompatriots have invested in business on the mainland.The "three links" between the two sides have made headway to varying degrees.Thanks to the joint efforts by compatriots on both sides, cross-straits exchanges have expanded steadily, resulting in closer contacts, deepening integration and an emerging congeniality.This is the inevitable trend of development for cross-straits relations, whichhelps maintain peace in the Taiwan Straits and contributes to prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Though conforming with the popular will and the shared interests of compatriots on both sides, the growing cross-straits relations in the past nine years have been repeatedly and deliberately disrupted and sabotaged by the separatist forces inTaiwan.Particularly in recent years, the leader of the Taiwan authorities hasrefused to accept the one-China principle, denied the "1992 consensus",advocated such separatist propositions as "one country on each side", pushed for incremental Taiwan independence by trumpeting desinonization and rectification of Taiwan's name, and even put out a timetable for Taiwan independence, thus seriously eroding the foundation for closer cross-straits relations and posing a grave threat to peace and security in the Taiwan Straits.His separatist moves have not only damaged the cross-straits relations but made a disruptive impact onTaiwan's economy and society.Hence compatriots on both sides are victims of the "Taiwanindependence" separatism.

The leader of theTaiwanauthorities recently said: "In order to preventChinafrom using force againstTaiwanand therefore, unilaterally changing the status quo, I have proposed a referendum for peace to be held on March 20." This is a slander against the mainland's efforts for peace and also a provocation to the cross-straits relations.At present, the real threat toTaiwan's security does not come from the mainland, but from the unbridled activities of "Taiwanindependence" separatism whipped up by theTaiwanauthorities.It is the "Taiwanindependence" forces that threaten to cause the unraveling of the status quo in the cross-straits relations and put peace in the Straits in danger.TheTaiwanauthorities have twisted the mainland's justified efforts to oppose the "Taiwanindependence" separatism and maintain stability in the Straits as a suppression ofTaiwan's democracy and freedom, and use it as an excuse to launch the referendums.This baseless accusation turns the truth upside down, and aims to win more sympathy and support for their separatist ambition.Though the leader of theTaiwanauthorities called the referendums "defensive" and "peaceful", these provocations, no matter how they were packaged, can only cause confrontation and animosity between the two sides of the Straits, aggravate the already strained relations and push them further to the brink of danger.This runs completely counter to the mainstream desire of theTaiwancompatriots for peace, tranquility and prosperity.Instead of a deepening ofTaiwan's "democracy", it is a design to mislead and manipulate theTaiwanpeople.It is also a serious threat to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, something that is bound to meet the opposition from compatriots on both sides of the Straits and the international community at large.

Throughout the history of the Chinese nation, unity of the country has always been the mainstream, the overall trend and what the people aspire.As our motherland grows stronger and cross-straits cooperation closer, the universally recognized one-China framework has become increasingly entrenched and whatever attempt at dismembering China is doomed to failure.We have full confidence in the ultimate reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.

Both the mainland andTaiwanbelong to the one and sameChina, a country compatriots on both sides can call "home".We have the duty to take good care of our home and make it stronger and more prosperous.We must, in the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and for the well-being of the compatriots on both sides, continue to adhere to the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems", earnestly implement the eight-point proposal on the development of cross-straits relations in the current period and the advancement of peaceful reunification, unite with the Taiwan compatriots in an effort to move forward the cross-straits relations and hasten the realization of China's reunification.

We firmly commit ourselves to peaceful reunification and dedicate our utmost to such a prospect with maximum sincerity.The 23 million compatriots inTaiwanare our brothers and sisters.No one in the world is more desirous of seeing a peaceful solution to theTaiwanquestion than we are.We will do whatever is required of us so long as it helps the peaceful reunification. We have made amply clear our determination and resolve for national unity, because we commit to a stable Taiwan Straits area, to a prospect ofChina's peaceful reunification and to the maintenance of the fundamental interests of the whole Chinese nation.

We stand for resolving the political differences between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits in a spirit of equality and accommodation, and we are ready to push the cross-straits dialogue and negotiations in a pragmatic and equal-footed manner consistent with the one-China principle. We have the maximum accommodativeness on the adherence to the one-China principle. We believe that there is only one China in the world, both the mainland and Taiwan are part of this one and same China, and China's sovereignty and territorial integrity brook no division. By advocating "no pre-conditions for cross-straits talks and negotiations", theTaiwanauthorities are in fact trying to renege on the consensus reached by the two sides on the adherence to the one-China principle, thus fundamentally negating the fact that the two sides of the Straits belong to the one and same country. Their true motive is to presuppose national split andTaiwanindependence, and to erect obstacles to negotiations.

It is our consistent position that as long as the one-China principle is recognized, cross-straits talks can cover any subject and the two sides will have complete equality in negotiating status. The talks would be broad and open, even the sensitive political issues could be put on the table for full discussion. As long as the two sides, in the context of the one-China principle, negotiate and reach an agreement on officially ending the state of hostility, tensions in the Taiwan Straits could be eased, and the steady growth of the cross-straits relations could be guaranteed. This is the most practical and most effective way to maintainTaiwan's security and ensure peace and stability in the Straits.

We hope to see an early realization of the "three links" in a comprehensive, direct and reciprocal manner so as to break new ground for cross-straits economic cooperation and bring greater benefits to the compatriots on both sides. Today's world is a scene of rapid scientific and technological advances, strong trend of economic globalization and regionalization, and fierce competition in comprehensive strength. The early realization of comprehensive, direct and reciprocal links between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits can boost their economic competitiveness, accelerate their common development and promote an overall upgrading and rejuvenation of their economies. This is a right thing to do for it serves the people, benefits the people and makes both sides winners. Such a great thing must no longer be subjected to artificial procrastination and impediment. We are positive about the establishment of an economic partnership mechanism and efforts to build closer economic relations between the two sides. We would like to hear the views and suggestions from the various circles inTaiwanin this regard. Just as President Hu Jintao said, we will do our utmost to facilitate all the initiatives and efforts as long as they help Taiwan compatriots to invest and do business in the mainland, contribute to cross-straits exchanges and cooperation in the economic, scientific and technological and cultural fields, and serve closer cross-straits relations and the reunification of the motherland.

We will continue to implement the policy of "placing our hope on theTaiwanpeople", and work hard and persistently to promote peaceful reunification and common development by uniting with theTaiwancompatriots. OurTaiwancompatriots have a glorious tradition of patriotism and they are an important force in developing cross-straits relations, promoting peaceful reunification and realizingChina's national rejuvenation.They are also an important force in checking the "Taiwanindependence" separatism. We shall earnestly protect the interests of theTaiwancompatriots, address their concerns as if they are our own and do everything possible to help theTaiwancompatriots with their problems.We treat allTaiwancompatriots equally, regardless of their provincial origins. We do not discriminate against those who are adopting a wait-and-see, a suspicious, or even a negative or antagonistic attitude towards closer cross-straits relations, as we are ready to have contact and interaction with them for increased understanding and greater identity of views. As long as one does not cling tenaciously to the "Taiwanindependence" position, we will exchange views with him and work for greater mutual trust through better communications.

The Spring Festival, the traditional red-letter day to all the Chinese people, is just around the corner.I would like to take this opportunity to extend my festive greetings and best wishes to the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, to our compatriots in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, and to all the overseas Chinese and foreign friends who have cared for and supported China's reunification.May all of you enjoy a happy Chinese New Year and every success!