Mainland commemorates major policy change on Taiwan 30 years ago

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-12-31  |     ONLINE EDITION

THE Chinese mainland commemorated the 30th anniversary of the announcement of Message to Compatriots in Taiwan in Beijing today with a ceremony attended by three top leaders including President Hu Jintao.

The Standing Committee of National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, issued the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan on Jan. 1, 1979.

In this statement, the mainland first proposed to end the military confrontation across the Taiwan Strait through dialog and welcomed exchanges between the two sides.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the ceremony with Jia Qinglin, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, also at present.

"The landmark statement elaborated our new policy on Taiwan issue and has brought the cross-Strait relations into a new stage," said Li Jianguo, deputy chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, in a speech at the ceremony.