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Beijing urges closer Taiwan ties | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for closer economic and cultural exchanges between China and Taiwan. | |
Mr Hu was speaking at a China-Taiwan forum in Beijing, aimed at improving ties between the two rival neighbours. | |
More than 30 MPs from Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), are taking part in the two-day event. | |
It comes just days after Taiwan, seen by China as part of its territory, rejected Beijing's plan for the Olympic torch to pass through the island. | It comes just days after Taiwan, seen by China as part of its territory, rejected Beijing's plan for the Olympic torch to pass through the island. |
President Hu told some 500 participants at the forum that China's economic growth offered more opportunities for better exchanges between China and Taiwan, China's official Xinhua news agency said. | |
Mr Hu said this would benefit both sides and help "curb Taiwan secessionist activities and maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait". | |
A large group of Taiwan's business leaders is also taking part in the forum. class="bodl" href="#map"> See planned East Asia leg of torch relay | |
The gathering is the third of its kind since a visit to China by former KMT head Lien Chan in 2005. | |
He was the first party chairman to return to the mainland since the KMT fled to Taiwan after losing the Chinese civil war more than 50 years ago. | He was the first party chairman to return to the mainland since the KMT fled to Taiwan after losing the Chinese civil war more than 50 years ago. |
Olympic row | Olympic row |
But the meeting is being overshadowed by the row whether the Olympic torch should travel through Taiwan before arriving in China for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. | But the meeting is being overshadowed by the row whether the Olympic torch should travel through Taiwan before arriving in China for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. |
On Thursday, Taiwan's authorities rejected China's plans for the torch to pass through the island as part of a domestic - rather than international - route. | On Thursday, Taiwan's authorities rejected China's plans for the torch to pass through the island as part of a domestic - rather than international - route. |
China wants the torch to go from Taiwan to Hong Kong on its way to Beijing. | China wants the torch to go from Taiwan to Hong Kong on its way to Beijing. |
But Taipei said the plan was unacceptable and compromised the island's sovereignty. | But Taipei said the plan was unacceptable and compromised the island's sovereignty. |
In response, China expressed its surprise over Taipei's rejection of the plan. | In response, China expressed its surprise over Taipei's rejection of the plan. |
The executive vice-president of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, Jiang Xiaoyu, said Taiwan's decision "breached the principle of separating sport from politics as enshrined in the Olympic charter". | The executive vice-president of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, Jiang Xiaoyu, said Taiwan's decision "breached the principle of separating sport from politics as enshrined in the Olympic charter". |
Taiwan and China have been ruled by separate governments since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. | Taiwan and China have been ruled by separate governments since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. |
The authorities in Beijing regard Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the rest of China - by force if necessary. | The authorities in Beijing regard Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the rest of China - by force if necessary. |
For the Olympics, the island is referred to as Chinese Taipei. | For the Olympics, the island is referred to as Chinese Taipei. |
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