Premier Wen Jiabao said on Friday that the mainland is closely
watching the secessionist activities and plots by "Taiwan
independence" forces in the island, and will never allow any change
of the historical fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China
since ancient times.
The year of 2007 is a crucial year for mainland-Taiwan relations
and the key issue is to keep peace and stability across the Taiwan
Strait, Wen said.
Wen made the remarks at a press conference shortly after the
conclusion of the annual full session of the National People's
Congress, China's top legislature.
The mainland will implement strictly the policies and measures
for developing cross-Strait relations, said Wen, noting that peace
and development will remain a main goal.
The two-way trade volume between the mainland and Taiwan
increased to US$100 billion in 2006, with Taiwan's export to the
mainland hitting US$80 billion, Wen said.
The mainland will take all efforts to protect the interests of
Taiwan businessmen in the mainland as well as interests of Taiwan
compatriots who come to the mainland to go to school and for
sightseeing, he said.
Wen said that the mainland will endeavor to push the three "
direct-links", namely mail, trade and transport links, with Taiwan,
noting that the mainland will continue to facilitate charter
passenger flights and cargo flights between the two sides.
Mainland travelers has been hoping to visit Taiwan for quite a
long period of time, and "we really look forward to the day that
this will come true," Wen said.
The peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan relations is a
historical trend that no one can reverse, Wen said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2007)