Chinese living in Oceania set up a regional organization in Sydney Friday to better coordinate their efforts in fight against separatists in China's Taiwan province.

A statement released at the founding of the Oceania Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, or OCPPRC, said the new organization marks a new stage for a movement among the local Chinese communities against Taiwan independence.

The founding of OCPPRC will help further enhance the promotion of China's reunification and opposition to Taiwan's independence across the world, it said.

The statement also called for the whole Chinese nation to unite against the separatist Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian and any foreign interference in the settlement of the Taiwan issue, a problem only subject to a solution by Chinese themselves.

The newly-elected OCPPRC Chairman William Chiu said "the founding of the OCPPRC is meant to show to the separatist elements in Taiwan like Chen Shui-bian and a few anti-China individuals in the United States our determination to promote peaceful reunification of China.

" The OCPPRC comprises eight sub-councils in different countries across the region, including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Attending the opening ceremony were more than 200 delegates from groups promoting China's reunification in Asia, Europe, America, Africa as well as Oceania.

Source: Xinhua