Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China, said yesterday that the CPC is ready to join hands with Taiwan's New Party to promote the peaceful reunification of the motherland.
Hu made the statements at a meeting with a visiting delegation from the New Party headed by Chairman Yok Mu-ming at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
"It is the common political proposition and the goal of our two parties to firmly oppose 'Taiwan independence' and promote peaceful reunification of the country," Hu said.
He pledged that the CPC will continue to work with the New Party to resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and their activities, thus safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and promoting the improvement and development of cross-strait relations.
He said the New Party has made positive contributions to improving relations across the Taiwan Strait.
"It's very praiseworthy for them to do so and we very much appreciate their efforts," he said.
The New Party, which was set up in 1993, currently holds four seats in Taiwan's "Legislative Yuan."
The New Party has always adhered to the one-China position, opposed "Taiwan independence" and stood for the peaceful reunification of the nation, said Hu.
The New Party delegation arrived on the mainland last Wednesday.
Yok is the third opposition party leader from Taiwan to visit the mainland since April, following the back-to-back visits of Kuomintang Chairman Lien Chan and People First Party Chairman James CY Soong.
The eight-day visit to commemorate the 60th anniversary of China's victory in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression wraps up today.
"Reunification has not yet been achieved," said Yok during a speech at Renmin University of China in Beijing. "All Chinese compatriots should spare no effort to this end."
He said the aim of his delegation's trip to the mainland is to promote the nation's revitalization and arouse patriotism and nationalism among the young generation.
He noted that the biggest fruit of the mainland trip is to have a better understanding of Chinese national spirits, which he will take back to Taiwan.
But he also pointed out that the Taiwan authorities have deliberately played down celebrations on China's victory over the resistant war against Japanese aggression on the island, which indicates their evident inclination to "independence."
He also expressed firm opposition to those who still have Japanese imperialist mentality and look down upon their Chinese compatriots, accusing Lee Teng-hui as such a representative.
"Chinese should not fight against Chinese and Chinese should help Chinese," he stressed.
He said that his party is an element of the Chinese nation and will do its utmost to promote national unity.
The New Party delegation paid homage to the Huanghuagang 72 Martyrs' Cemetery in Guangzhou, the first leg of its four-city trip.
It also visited the Mausoleum of Dr Sun Yat-sen in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, and offered condolences to victims of the Nanjing Massacre at the Memorial Hall of Compatriots Murdered in Nanjing.
During their stay in Dalian, a port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, Yok and his entourage visited some historical sites.