The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council will make greater efforts to advance national reunification and rejuvenation by following the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), spokesman Chen Binhua said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development was approved on March 12 at the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress.
"The outline sets out a top-level design and a strategic plan for the work related to Taiwan during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, specifying the goals and tasks of promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and advancing the cause of national reunification in the course of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects," said Chen.
"The outline clearly states that efforts should be made to thoroughly implement the Party's overall policy for the new era on resolving the Taiwan question, stay committed to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, resolutely fight against separatist forces aimed at Taiwan secessionism, oppose external interference, safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and firmly maintain the initiative and the ability to steer cross-Strait relations, so as to improve the wellbeing of the Chinese people on both sides and steadfastly protect the common homeland of the Chinese nation," said Chen.
"We will thoroughly implement our Party's overall policy for the new era on resolving the Taiwan question, and act in accordance with the requirements of the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan. We will unite with our compatriots in Taiwan to keep pace with the trends of history, actively promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, integrate the development of the two sides, and jointly work toward the great cause of national reunification and national rejuvenation," said Chen.
Taiwan affairs office to advance national reunification, rejuvenation by following 15th Five-Year Plan: spokesman
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged to repair the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude oil to Central Europe via Ukraine, within about one and a half months, with support from the European Union (EU), according to a letter sent to EU leaders on Tuesday.
The Druzhba pipeline, also known as the Friendship Pipeline, has been out of operation since the end of January due to an attack.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa confirmed the commitment in a joint statement issued the same day.
According to the statement, Ukraine welcomes and accepts technical support and funding from EU, so as to repair the pipeline and restore the flow of oil to Hungary and Slovakia.
Oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline to Slovakia and Hungary were suspended following an attack on January 27, Ukrainian officials said, blaming Russia for the pipeline damage. Slovakia later declared an oil emergency and claimed that Ukraine was deliberately halting oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline.
One Monday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said the Slovak government can't accept the Ukrainian president's unilateral and harmful move to halt oil transit.
Fico emphasized that the EU must not prioritize Ukraine's interests over those of EU-member states such as Slovakia or Hungary.
Slovakia expects the EU to pressure Ukraine to resume the oil flow through the Druzhba pipeline, said Fico.
Also on Monday, Hungary and Slovakia signed an agreement to build a new pipeline to transport gasoline and diesel between the two countries.
In a video posted on Facebook, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said he had signed an agreement earlier in the day with Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova to construct the pipeline linking the oil refineries in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, and Szazhalombatta in central Hungary.
According to Szijjarto, the pipeline will be 127 km long and capable of transporting up to 1.5 million tons of oil products annually, including diesel and gasoline.
He said the project would strengthen Hungary's energy supply, particularly diesel supplies, and help improve regional energy security.
The pipeline is expected to be completed in the first half of next year and will allow direct transportation of refined oil products between the two refineries, the minister added.
Ukraine pledges to repair Druzhba pipeline with EU support
