Speech by President Wang Daohao at Reception Marking the 10th Anniversary of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits

Today is the 10th anniversary kof the associatiob for Relations Across the Taiwanb Straits (ARATS). Over the past 10 years, ARATS has played a positvie role and made much ground in propelloing development of cross-Straits relations, especially in defending the ?one China? principle, opposing the separatist plot for ?the independence of Taiwan?, promoting economic and trade cooperation across the Taiwan Straits, personnel and various other forms of exchange, assisting departments concerned to deal with concrete problems plaguing the contacts and defending their legal rights and interests, organizations and people from all walks of life, who favor development of cross-Straits relations, as well as compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao, and overseas Chinese, who are very much concerned with the reunification of the motherland.
ARATS is the product of the development of relations between those on both sides of the Taiwan Straits; it opens a new page in the history of cross-Straits; it opens a new page in the history of cross-Straits relations. Althouhg the two sides have differences over the political meaning of ?one China? since 1949, they all agree that, in the world today, there is only one China, to which the mainland and Taiwan belong, and China?s sovereignty can in no way be separated from terrritoral integrity. In 1992, ARATS and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) agreed to orally declare that ?both sides of Taiwan Straits uphold the ?one China? principle? and will strive to seek reunification of the country?. It was based on this understanding that Mr. Koo Chen-fu and I held the ?Wang-Koo meeting? of historic significance in April 1993, which helped develop cross-Straits relations, ARATS and SEF decided to hold further dialogues and negotiations, leading to the settlement of some questions related to the economy and general affairs. In October 1998, I met Mr. Koo Chen-fu again, conducting dialogues and negotiations held by ARATS and SEF on an equal footing played an important role in improving and developing the cross-Straits relationship, and conform with the broad interests of people on both sides of the Straits.

The broad masses of compatriots in Taiwan yearn for political stability, economic recovery and social harmony. All these, however, will not be achieved without stable development of cross-Straits relations. No matter how the political situation in Taiwan will change, holding a dialogue and negotiations on the basis of the censensus ARATs and SEF reached in 1992 remains the key to whether the political impasse can be broken and whether the cross-Straits relations can be further improved. As always, we have the greatest sincerity for earlier re-openign of dialogue between ARATS and SEF. Our effort to safeguard the consensus ARATS and SEF reached in 1992 is geared to see they enter into dialogue at an early date on the basis of the 1992 consensus. Whether the 1992 consensus is accepted or not boils down to the question as to whether the fact that ?the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China? is accepted. If the Taiwan authorities refuse to accept the 1992 consensus, it means they have no sincerity in improving the cross-Straits relations. On the contrary, if they respect the history of meetings between ARATS and SEF?respect the desire of the majority of compatriots in Taiwan, and do wish to devote themselves to cross-Straits peace, harmony and cooperation, they should accept the consensus ARATS and SEFreached in 1992. Since the second half of 1999, the cross-Straits relations have seen time wasted in terms of improvement, and the interests of people living on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, especially those in Taiwan, have been seriously undermined. Now is the time to re-open dialogue on the basis of the 1992 consensu!

In the new century, the world economy has become increasingly globalized and regioalized, while China?s mainland has witnessed vigorous economic development. China?s mainland and Taiwan have become memebers of the WTO, creating favorable conditions for them to expand economic exchange and promote the ?three direct links?. I proposed strengthened cross-Straits economic coopration and joint effort for national economic prosperity when I held talks with Mr. Koo Chen-fu for the first time. Today, in the face of new opportunities and chalenges, both sides of the Taiwan Straits should not lose the valuable historical opportunity again. Both sides should adopt a practical attitude, and adopt methods including people-to-peole, trade-to-trade and company-to-company consultations to materialize the ?three direct links? at the earliest possible date in the interests of the people living on both sides of the Straits.

The mainland has, since late 1978 when the reform and opening program was introduced, been enjoying economic prosperity, arousing more and more interest and affirmation by Taiwan compatriots. This finds concentradted expression in the ?Shanghao craze?. At the beginning of the new century, the mainland succeeded in winning the bid to hold the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and in sponsoring the APEC summit meetings. The Chinese, Taiwan compatriots included, take pride in and are encouraged by the great role the Chinese nation plays in promoting world peace and development. In future, ARARS must seize the opportunity for development of cross-Straits relations, continue to uphold the basic principle of ?peaceful reunification, and one country and two systems,? implement in an all round way the tight proposals put forward by President Jiang Zemin, and strive to play a bigger role and do a better job in accordance with its regualtions and bestowed powers. Reunification of the motherland is an irresistible trend. We are convinced that, so long as compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits can proceed from common interests and the glorious prospect of the Chinese nation and work together, the cross-Straits relations will inevitably develop further, and reunification of the both sides of the Taiwan Straits will be an inevitable road for the future.