Work Together for the Realization of the Chinese Dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation

Speech delivered by Xi Jinping when receiving Lien Chan, Honorary Chairman of the Kuomintang Party of China, and his delegation on February 18, 2014. Contained in The Governance of China by Xi Jinping. The speech pointed out that due to history and present circumstances, there are many thorny problems for the moment between our two sides, but this will pass, for we are both doing our best to solve them, and to ensure that they do not adversely affect our relationship, our cooperation, or our exchanges. Meanwhile, the people on both sides of the Straits are one family with shared blood, culture, bonds, and aspirations, all of which serve as an important force for promoting our mutual understanding and common progress. Firstly, we are one family, and no one can ever cut the veins that connect us. The closeness between us is rooted in our blood, our history and culture. Such consciousness and feelings are inherent and natural and can never be erased. To strengthen these ties has been our common aspiration, and no force on earth can sever the bond between us. Secondly, people on both sides of the Straits share the same destiny, and there is no knot that cannot be unraveled.

Despite the Straits that separate us geographically, we share the same destiny. A great Chinese nation will be a blessing for all Chinese, while a weak and divided one will be disastrous. For more than six decades now, although the two sides have yet to be reunited, we belong to one country and the same nation – a fact that has never changed, nor will ever change in the future. The blood of the Chinese nation flows in every one of us, and ours is forever the soul of the Chinese nation. Due to their historical suffering and the distinct social environment in which they have lived, the people of Taiwan have their own mindset. They bear particular historical scars, they are eager to be masters of their own destiny, they cherish their established social systems and way of life, and they wish to live a stable and happy life. Putting ourselves in their place, we can fully understand their feelings. We identify with our compatriots in Taiwan in terms of their historical trauma, for it is a shared trauma of all sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. With the advent of the new era, it has become a common goal cherished by each one of us on both sides of the Straits to become a dignified Chinese and a helmsman of his own destiny.

Family affection cannot only heal wounds, relieve pain, and unlock hearts, but help achieve mutual affinity. We respect the social system and the way of life chosen by the people of Taiwan and would also like them to be first in sharing the opportunities brought by the mainland’s development. None of us can choose our history, but we can all seize the moment and create a better future. Thirdly, the people on both sides of the Straits should join our efforts in promoting peaceful cross-Straits relations. Facts have proved that this is the right path, leading to peace, common development, national rejuvenation and mutual benefit. The two sides should eliminate all obstacles, and advance along this path firmly, step by step, and with full confidence. The current peaceful development of cross-strait relations is beneficial to both sides, and no one wants to reverse such a favorable trend. For this reason, the two sides must consolidate and hold fast to our common foundation of the “1992 Consensus” and our opposition to “Taiwan independence,” and be fully aware of the importance of maintaining the one-China framework. Such a foundation is the anchor for cross-straits relations. As long as a solid foundation is maintained, the prospects for cross-straits relations will continue to grow brighter. If the foundation is jeopardized, the relations will go back to turbulence and instability.

As far as any significant political differences between the mainland and Taiwan are concerned, we are willing to conduct consultations with the people of Taiwan, based on equality within the one-China framework, and come to reasonable arrangements. We are ready to communicate with the people of Taiwan on any and every subject. Not every problem has an ideal solution, but where there is communication, there is hope, and, as a saying goes, “Faith can move mountains.” The people of China on both sides of the Straits have the wisdom to find the right approach to the problems between us. Fourthly, the people of the two sides should work hand in hand towards the Chinese Dream, the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. These were the long-cherished wishes of Dr Sun Yatsen: to achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, to realize the greatness and prosperity of China, and to ensure the happiness of the Chinese people. These have also been the long-cherished wishes of all CPC members and all the Chinese people since the advent of modern times. The Chinese Dream is a vivid expression of this wish.

The Chinese Dream is closely related to Taiwan's future. It is a dream shared by both sides of the Straits that can only be realized through joint effort. The people of both sides of the Straits, regardless of their parties, social strata, religions, or localities, should support each other in achieving national rejuvenation and the Chinese Dream as quickly as possible. The speech emphasized that we treat the people of Taiwan in all sincerity, and we are open to advice from all sides.We will do our best to deal properly with any matter concerning the well-being of our compatriots in Taiwan, the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and the overall interests of the Chinese nation. We will do our best to ensure that the people of Taiwan benefit from the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and to ensure that all Chinese people live a better life.