Liu Qi (L), secretary of the Communist Party of China's Beijing Municipal Committee, shakes hands with Yok Mu-ming, chairman of the New Party of Taiwan in southeast China, during their meeting in Beijing Hotel of Beijing, July 11, 2005.

Liu Qi, secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with the visiting New Party delegation from Taiwan in Beijing Monday.

Liu, also a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, extended warm welcome to the New Party delegation from Taiwan on behalf of Beijing residents and CPC Beijing Municipal Committee.

New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming headed a 30-member delegation to embark on an eight-day journey of the Chinese nation to the mainland and commemorate of the 60th anniversary of China's victory over the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The visit, starting last Wednesday, fully demonstrates Taiwan compatriots' attitude toward safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Liu.

Liu urged people on both sides of the Taiwan-Straits to carry forward the national spirit centered on patriotism and strive to rejuvenate the Chinese nation.

Beijing has remained close economic and trade cooperation with Taiwan for decades.

By the end of last year, Beijing has approved 2,200 Taiwan-funded projects which involved 2.5 billion US dollars of investment from Taiwan. Trade volume between the two cities reached 1.8 billion US dollars in 2004.

Liu also briefed Yok Mu-ming and his party on Beijing's preparation for the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

The Olympic Games to be held in Beijing three years later not only belongs to the mainland people, but also shows the common aspiration of Taiwan residents, said Yok, reflecting the New Party's willingness to contribute its due share to the Beijing Games.

The New Party delegation arrived in Beijing Sunday morning for the last leg of its four-city mainland visit after touring Guangzhou, Nanjing and Dalian.

Source: Xinhua