Qian in appeal to Taiwan over talks
Vice-Premier Qian Qichen has called on Taipei to accept Beijing's terms for political talks.
Mr Qian reiterated Beijing's proposal to 'hold talks on any issues under the one-China principle' and urged Taipei to remove obstacles to cross-strait exchanges.
He stressed Taiwan was part of China under the one-China principle but did not liken the government on the island to a regional government, as other officials have done in the past.
Mr Qian said: 'Standing firm on the 'one-China' principle is to stand firm that there is only one China in this world and Taiwan is part of China, that China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be divided.
'This position should be acceptable to the Taiwan authorities.' The 21 million Taiwanese were 'our flesh and bones', Beijing had placed its hopes in them and 'fully respects their desire to be their own masters', he said.
Mr Qian also appealed to Taiwanese businessmen to work for an early lifting of the direct trade and transport ban across the Taiwan Strait.
He said China was the safest place for investments after the Asian financial crisis.
Mr Qian's comments were made during a visit to Jiangsu and Shanghai last week. Xinhua said he was accompanied on his visit by Taiwan Affairs Office Director Chen Yunlin.
His appeal came on the eve of a meeting between negotiators from Taipei and Beijing, due to begin in the mainland capital tomorrow following nearly three years of deadlock.
Jan Jyh-horng, a newly appointed deputy secretary-general of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, was set to lead Taipei's delegation.
The foundation and its Beijing counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, were scheduled to 'exchange opinions' on a future visit by foundation chairman Koo Chen-fu.
Top mainland affairs officials in Taiwan have said they hope Mr Koo would be able to visit the mainland by early next year.
The two groups had held regularly scheduled negotiations on technical cross-strait issues after Mr Koo met his association counterpart, Wang Daohan, in Singapore in 1993.
Fu Kuen-chen, a legislator for Taiwan's right-wing opposition New Party, said 'quite a lot' was expected from the resumption of contacts between cross-strait mediators.
Mr Fu said it was hoped Mr Jan and his association counterparts would work out an agenda for new informal talks on issues ranging from protection for Taiwanese businessmen operating on the mainland to combatting cross-strait crime.
'Both governments lack a direct negotiating channel and this makes Taiwan businessmen feel like orphans,' he said.
'Those businessmen who decide to play by the legitimate rules, instead of using illicit relationships, often end up losing money.'
