And much progress has been made during the past 13 years under the third-generation leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin at the core.

This period has witnessed the successful return of Hong Kong and Macao to the motherland and progress in relations across the Taiwan Strait despite various twists and turns in cross-Strait affairs.

On July 1, 1997, the Chinese Government formerly resumed the exercise of its sovereignty over Hong Kong and made it a special administrative region enjoying a high degree of autonomy.

Hong Kong has maintained its prosperity and stability under Chinese rule, despite a negative forecast by the US Fortune magazine before the return of Hong Kong to the motherland. At a global forum it sponsored in Hong Kong in 2001, the magazine said Hong Kong remained one of the most dynamic places in Asia and even worldwide four years after Hong Kong's return.

Speaking on Jul. 1, 2002 at a meeting in Hong Kong to mark the fifth anniversary of the return of Hong Kong, Party General Secretary and President Jiang Zemin said that facts had eloquently proven the "one country, two systems" policy was feasible in Hong Kong.

Dec. 20, 1999 saw the return of Macao to China. In contrast to its previous perennial economic recessions, the Macao SAR has posted sustained economic growth since its return to the motherland.

After the smooth return of Hong Kong and Macao to the motherland, Taiwan's reunification with the motherland has become an increasingly more prominent issue on the agenda of the CPC and the entire nation.

While resolutely fighting proponents of Taiwan independence, the whole nation under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Jiang Zemin at the core has also sought the support of the Taiwan compatriots and vigorously promoted cross-Strait economic, cultural and personnel exchanges.

In January 1995, Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin made an eight-point proposal concerning the Taiwan issue, which has since served as a guideline for resolving the issue.

In this proposal, Jiang said that adherence to the principle of one China was the basis and premise for the country's peaceful reunification. Standing firmly by the principle, the whole nation under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee has fought hard and courageously against rampant pro-independence activities in Taiwan.

These struggles have demonstrated to the world the strong determination and capability of the CPC and the Chinese Government in maintaining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, dealt a heavy blow to pro-independence elements in Taiwan and consolidated the general concept in the international community that there is only one China in the world.

Over the past 13 years, cross-Strait relations have made significant progress in a number of fields. By the end of August this year, a total of 26 million Taiwanese had come to visit the mainland and more than 600,000 people from the Chinese mainland had visited Taiwan.

During the same period, indirect cross-Strait trade exceeded 250 billion US dollars. The mainland absorbed over 61 billion dollars of contractual investment from Taiwan, of which some 32 billion dollars had actually been used. There has also been progress in opening air and sea links across the strait.

After Hong Kong and Macao, it is apparent that the Communist Party of China and the whole nation are resolved to bring about the complete reunification of the country. Judging from the successful return of Hong Kong and Macao and continuing prosperity in these two regions, the long-cherished aspiration of all the Chinese for the motherland's reunification will be accomplished.

( October 22, 2002)