The reception was jointly hosted by the General Office of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body, and the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Li Ruihuan, standing committee member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the reception, together with some 1,000 delegates from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macao SAR and Taiwan as well as overseas friends and representatives from all walks of life in the Chinese capital to commemorate China's National Day, which falls on Oct. 1.

Wang Zhaoguo, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and head of the UFWD, addressed the reception.

He attributed the rapid development of the New China to the united efforts of the Chinese people of all nationalities, including democratic parties, nonparty personages, business groups, and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas Chinese under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee as General Secretary Jiang Zemin as its core.

Wang said with the support of the central government and under the leadership of the SAR governments, Hong Kong and Macao have continuously maintained stability and prosperity since their return to China.

The policy of "One Country, Two Systems" has been implemented in an all-round way, which has won a universal praise by the international community. The fact shows that this policy is beneficial not only to Hong Kong and Macao, but also to world peace and development, he said.

Wang expressed the belief that the future of the two regions will be brighter.

Referring to the issue of the reunification of the motherland, Wang stressed that "one-China" principle is the foundation to develop the relations across the Taiwan Straits.

"We will continuously adhere to the basic principles of 'peaceful reunification', 'one country, two systems' and the eight-point proposals put forward by President Jiang Zemin" to push forward the cause of reunification, he said.

(People?s Daily September 29, 2002)