An official of the mainland-based Association for Relations
Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) on Friday expressed sincere
thanks to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao compatriots, as well as
overseas Chinese and foreign personages, for their condolences over
the death of late ARATS President Wang Daohan.
The official expressed the gratitude on behalf of the Taiwan
Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and
the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, as well as Wang's
family, after a ceremony for people to pay their last respects to
Wang held in Shanghai Friday morning.
Wang died of illness in Shanghai last Saturday at the age of
90.
The ARATS official said after Wang's death, the people, related
departments, political parties and social organizations in Taiwan,
Hong Kong and Macao compatriots, overseas Chinese, foreign
embassies in China and foreign statesmen sent messages of
condolences or wreaths.
While mourning over the death of Wang and cherishing the memory
of him, they spoke highly of the late ARATS president's
contribution to the development of relations across the Taiwan
Straits, said the official.
The ARATS is also deeply grateful to the widow and children of
Koo Chen-fu, late chairman of the Taiwan-based Strait Exchange
Foundation (SEF), representatives of Taiwan's political parties and
social organizations, personages from Taiwan's business community
and media, and Wang's friends in Taiwan, who made a special trip to
Shanghai to pay their last respects to Wang in person, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2005)