Representatives from Chinese communities across the globe reached consensus on Tuesday at a high-level conference in Hong Kong on furthering the endeavor of fighting against separatist activities and promoting the peaceful reunification of China.
Officials attending the event noted that the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong serves as a good example for China's peaceful reunification, and they called for efforts to further promote the principle and share in the opportunities that would arise from China's peaceful reunification.
They made the remarks at the Overseas Chinese World Conference for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China.
Themed "Advancing China's Peaceful Reunification and Achieving the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation", the conference was attended by 1,200 representatives from overseas Chinese organizations and patriotic groups in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. The 2024 Hong Kong Declaration was issued at the conference, reiterating the firm resolve to fight secessionist activities and expressing a strong desire to enhance cross-Strait exchanges and integration.
Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the nation's top political advisory body, said in a congratulatory letter sent to the conference that China cares about the fate of all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots.
He called on compatriots at home and abroad to adhere to the principles set by the Communist Party of China in resolving the Taiwan question, advance the development of cross-Strait relations, and promote China's peaceful reunification from the perspective of the overall interests and long-term development of the Chinese nation.
Addressing the event, Shi Taifeng, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, said the stable development of "one country, two systems "in Hong Kong serves as an important reference and plays a crucial role in achieving the nation's complete reunification.
He urged compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as from overseas, to enhance links between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, adding that they can act as bridges for exchanges and cooperation, and facilitate Taiwan compatriots to partake in opportunities arising from Chinese modernization.
Shi said that the nation today is more confident and capable than at any time in history of achieving complete national reunification, adding that resolving the Taiwan question and achieving complete reunification is a historical mission of the CPC.
Although the situation in the Taiwan Strait is severe amid the current complex and changing international situation, the initiative to resolve the Taiwan question has always been in the hands of the mainland, he added.
Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that safeguarding the homeland is a shared aspiration of the Chinese nation, with peace and mutually beneficial development and peaceful reunification always being the desire of mainstream public opinion.
In safeguarding national unity, no one should underestimate the Chinese nation's firm determination and strong capabilities, Zheng said.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu emphasized that the institutional advantages of "one country, two systems" have brought tremendous opportunities to Hong Kong, enabling it to establish a robust judicial system, rich external connections and unique competitiveness and to play pivotal roles in the nation's development blueprint.