Taiwan's UN bid rejected

UNITED NATIONS: The General Committee of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly decided on Wednesday not to include the issue of "Taiwan's participation in the activities of UN specialized agencies".

The "proposal" was submitted by Nauru, Gambia and some other countries.

China's UN ambassador Wang Guangya said the UN special agencies have resolved the issue of China's representation in the world body in accordance with the UN Charter and Resolution 2758.

"People on both sides of the Taiwan Straits share the same blood and destiny," he said. Taiwan compatriots offered generous contribution and selfless assistance for disaster relief after the devastating earthquake struck Sichuan on May 12, he said. "This moved everyone deeply and gave full expression to the saying: blood is thicker than water."

Wang said cross-Taiwan Straits relations have recently maintained a good momentum of improvement and development.

"We hope people across the Straits work together on the basis of the one-China principle to create conditions for resumption of consultations and negotiations to resolve in a pragmatic manner the concerns of the Taiwan compatriots, including giving priority to discussions of their participation in the activities of the World Health Organization."

He said the prospect of peaceful development of cross-Straits ties "is in the hands of people on both sides of the Straits".

Source: Xinhua/China Daily