'One country, two systems' right formula for Taiwan, Xi Jinping reiterates

President Xi Jinping yesterday revived the idea of Taiwan and the mainland uniting under the formula of "one country, two systems".

And he said there was no way Beijing would back away from its long-time goal of achieving cross-strait reunification.

But Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou flatly rejected the idea, saying it was "unacceptable" because it would cost the island its sovereignty.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council and its Executive Yuan also issued statements rejecting the concept.

The "one country, two systems" formula, first proposed by Deng Xiaoping , is facing an unprecedented challenge in Hong Kong.

When Xi met a Taiwanese delegation in Beijing, he also underscored Beijing's long-standing position that secessionism was intolerable, and that Taiwan must work with the mainland to curb moves that would hamper the dream of unity.

Xi told the Taiwanese visitors, from more than 20 pro-unification groups including the island's New Party, that "cross-strait unification has long been our firm and unwavering stance", and "it is also an unchangeable fact that both Taiwan and the mainland belong to the same China".