BEIJING, Jan 2 : Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that nobody can change the fact that Taiwan is part of China, and that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should seek “reunification”.
Xi made the comments in a speech on the 40th anniversary of a key policy statement that eventually lead to a thaw in relations with the self-ruled island.
Taiwan won't be forced to bow to China, president says
The Chinese President said that Taiwan will be guaranteed lasting peace after peaceful reunification, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a gathering to commemorate the 40th anniversary of issuing Message to Compatriots in Taiwan.
Xi called for efforts to deepen the integrated development across the Taiwan Strait to consolidate the foundation of peaceful reunification, adding that "Chinese people should help each other."
Xi also pledged to further institutionalize the cross-Strait economic cooperation and to forge a cross-Strait common market, Xinhua said.
Both sides should enhance the free flow of trade, connectivity in infrastructure, exchange of energy and resources, and shared industrial standards, said Xi.
