Chang Jung-kung, vice chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party, will attend the conference of the 18th Straits Forum in Xiamen City, east China's Fujian Province, on June 13, said Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
"The 18th Straits Forum will be held in Xiamen on June 13. Representatives from various sectors in Taiwan, including KMT Party Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung, will attend the event. Preparations for the forum have been largely completed so far," she said.
"This year's forum continues to focus on serving grassroots-level communities and young people, ensuring that the fruits of cross-Strait integration and development benefit more people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. We warmly welcome compatriots from all walks of life in Taiwan to cross the Strait and gather together with us to jointly strengthen bonds, share opportunities, pursue development and build a shared future," Zhang said.
KMT Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung to attend Straits Forum in mainland
Threats of force or the imposition of war will only push the Iranian nuclear issue and the situation in the Middle East toward a dangerous abyss, warned a Chinese UN envoy Tuesday at a UN Security Council meeting.
Despite objections from China and Russia, which said the United Nations Security Council had already ended its review of the Iran nuclear issue, the UN Security Council still held a public meeting early Wednesday morning and approved a procedural measure by vote.
Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said in response that certain countries deliberately ignored the Security Council members' differences and concerns, forcibly pushed for the Security Council to reimpose sanctions on Iran, insisted on convening a Security Council meeting on an issue that has already been terminated, bearing full responsibility for the current difficulties facing the Council.
Sun said that the US' unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and its use of force against Iran on two occasions during the negotiation process have seriously damaged diplomatic efforts and are the primary cause of the current difficult and complex situation.
"Under the current circumstances, the Security Council should play a constructive role, not simply keep forcing through sanctions and exerting pressure on Iran, and still less should it become a tool for some countries to advance their own political agendas," he said.
The Chinese envoy emphasized that the UN Security Council members must keep their eyes on the bigger picture of a political settlement, take concrete steps to buy time and space for diplomatic efforts, and foster a positive atmosphere for negotiations.
China has consistently followed developments in the Middle East and the trajectory of the Iranian nuclear issue closely, he said.
China has all along maintained an objective and impartial stance, worked tirelessly to stop the fighting, and done its utmost for peace.
Sun said China stands ready to continue working with the rest of the international community to provide stronger impetus for dialogue and talks, and to play a constructive role in securing a proper resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue and in realizing enduring peace in the Middle East.
Threats of force will not solve Iranian nuclear issue: Chinese envoy
