A top Chinese leader called yesterday on the country's chief advisory group to resolutely oppose Taiwan independence and to persuade the island's residents to support China's reunification endeavor.
The appeal by Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, came before China's legislature was expected to enact an anti-secession law at a session that starts tomorrow.
"We must oppose and check secessionist activities aimed at Taiwan independence," Jia said in a speech to the opening of the annual session of the CPPCC, the country's top advisory body. The organization includes representatives of China's main business, religious and other noncommunist groups.
The meetings of the two bodies are expected to be dominated by government efforts to dissuade Taiwanese leaders from taking steps to separate the island province from China.
Jia called on CPPCC members to promote commercial, cultural and social relations with Taiwan.
"We need to increase ties with people from all sectors of society and organizations in Taiwan and work harder to win popular support," Jia said to the more than 2,000 CPPCC members gathered in the cavernous Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.
He said they should work with Taiwanese to "eliminate their suspicions and misunderstandings" about central government policy.
President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other top leaders were seated behind Jia onstage as he spoke.
The ruling party's main newspaper, the People's Daily, said yesterday that the CPPCC should help to unite patriotic forces worldwide to resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence."
Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa serves as a member of the advisory body for the first time this year amid media reports that he is preparing to resign.
"The enactment of the anti-secession law occurs at the right time and is highly necessary," commented Tina Ho Teng Iat, a CPPCC member from the Macau Special Administrative Region. "I think the proposed law aims to fight and curb the 'Taiwan independence' forces and promote the peaceful reunification of the motherland."
"With the anti-secession law in place, people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will only feel safer," said Sze Cheung-pang, an adviser from Hong Kong. "This is because the law is based on the principle of peaceful reunification and 'one country, two systems."'
Once adopted, said Sze, the law will provide an explicit legal guarantee for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region.
Much of Jia's speech was devoted to domestic issues, calling on the CPPCC members to help promote a "harmonious society."
"We should correctly handle conflicts among the people ... in balancing relationships, ameliorating conflicts, allaying resentments and maintaining stability," he said.
According to sources with the CPPCC National Committee, the advisers participating in the session have so far submitted nearly 600 proposals and suggestions, in which "the building of a harmonious society" turns out to be a "highly popular term."