Chairman of CPPCC meets alumni of the Whampoa Military Academy

To firmly stop the "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and to safeguard cross-Straits peace and stability are the most urgent tasks currently for mainland and Taiwan compatriots.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remark Thursday at a conference marking the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the renowned Whampoa (Huangpu) Military Academy.

Founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, forerunner of China's democratic revolution and founder of the Kuomintang, the Whampoa Military Academy trained thousands of senior soldiers in its short history, many of whom later became noted generals and marshals.

In recent years, the Taiwan authorities, together with other separatist forces, pushed the cross-Straits relations to a dangerous brink, he said.

The union of Whampoa schoolmates is an important force to push forward the national reunification, Jia said, expressing hope that they will make more contributions to the solution of the Taiwan issue and construction of the Xiaokang (relatively well-off) society.