Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin (1st R) shakes hands with relatives of Wang Daohan, in Shanghai, Dec. 30, 2005 (Xinhua)

Family members of Wang Daohan, the Chinese mainland's chief negotiator with Taiwan, pay their last respects to the late president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait yesterday at his funeral held in Shanghai's Longhua Funeral Home. (Photo: Shanghai Daily)

Thousands of officials and Shanghai residents attended the Friday morning funeral of Wang Daohan, a former Shanghai mayor who served as the country's long-time envoy on Taiwan affairs. Wang died on December 24 at the age of 90.

Wang was the president of the mainland-based Association for the Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) before he died.

Though the funeral was officially open at 10 am, many visitors gathered at the grand hall of the Longhua Funeral Parlour as early as 8 o'clock, some of whom brought with them self-made wreaths.

The pair of calligraphic couplets hanging at the gate of the hall paid tribute to Wang, the man who helped to promote economic, technological and cultural exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan Province, hand in hand with Koo Chen-fu, the late chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

Wang, in his favourite black suit, was lying above the bed made of white and yellow flowers, surrounded by flower baskets and wreaths sent by his family. The wreaths from President Hu Jintao, former president Jiang Zemin, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice-President Zeng Qinghong, were placed in the middle of the hall's front part.

A number of renowned scholars and well-known figures also sent condolences to Wang's family. A group of Taiwan personages arrived on Thursday for the funeral service.

By 7 pm Thursday, those who had arrived in Shanghai included Yen Cho-yun, widow of Koo, Chiu Cheyne, former secretary-general of SEF, Wu Poh-hsiung, vice-chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, Chin Chin-sheng, secretary-general of the People First Party (PFP), and Yok Mu-ming, chairman of the New Party. Among them were also representatives of the Hsin Tungmung Hui and the Alliance for the Reunification of China.

Lawrence J. Lau, vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, was also present.

He recalled that the university granted Wang an honorary PhD degree earlier this month. However, due to his poor health, Wang was unable to go to Hong Kong.

On December 11, Lau sent the robe and certificate to Wang, who was hospitalized in Ruijin Hospital.

Wang, in return, sent Lau two Chinese paintings one named "shuang qing" (or "Two Green Plants ") with bamboo and orchids, known as the "noblemen" of plants in Chinese culture, to the university, and the other, named "you yu" ("Swimming Fish"), to Lau himself.

Lau and Wang had a photo taken together, and that was Wang's last photo.

Li Zhixing, a doctor in Central China's Henan Province, came all the way to wave goodbye to Wang, his gracious "uncle." Li's father Li Peirong was Wang's old friend in the same battle in East China in 1942.

While Li Zhixing studied in Shanghai High School, Wang gave him affectionate care and valuable instruction.

While Li was raising funds for a memorial hall, although in serious ill health already, showed his care for the project and donated 3,000 yuan (US$370) to the memorial together with two of his former "battle-comrades."

Wang loved reading, and he always recommended books to children around him, Li recalled.

Fang Yanguang, Wang's secretary, echoed Li, saying that "in my son's childhood, Wang sent me a set of Grimme Brothers and this inspired me to love reading as well."

Wang, as an active promoter for peace across the Straits, will be remembered by people in Taiwan Province, many visitors from Taiwan noted.

ARATS expresses thanks

An ARATS official on Friday expressed sincere thanks to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao compatriots, as well as overseas Chinese and foreign personages, for their condolences over the death of Wang, Xinhua reported.

The official expressed the gratitude on behalf of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, as well as Wang's family, after the ceremony.

The ARATS official said after Wang's death, the people, related departments, political parties and social organizations in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao compatriots, overseas Chinese, foreign embassies in China and foreign statesmen sent messages of condolences or wreaths.

While mourning the death of Wang and cherishing the memory of him, they spoke highly of the late ARATS president's contribution to the development of relations across the Taiwan Straits, said the official.

The ARATS is also deeply grateful to the widow and children of Koo Chen-fu, representatives of Taiwan's political parties and social organizations, personages from Taiwan's business community and media, and Wang's friends in Taiwan, who made a special trip to Shanghai to pay their respects to Wang in person, he said.