BEIJING, January 31 (Xinhuanet) -- A forum was held Thursday to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the introduction of the Eight-Point Proposals on Peaceful Reunification of the Motherland, put forward by President Jiang Zemin.

　　The forum was held by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC), the Ministry of Communications, theMinistry of Information Industry, the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, and the State Post Bureau.

　　Participants in the forum spoke highly of the historic and practical significance of the eight-point proposal, holding that the proposals are bound to affect Cross-Straits relations in the 21st century and benefit the great cause of peaceful reunification.

　　They said they will continue to carry out the basic principle of "peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposition for an early reunification of the motherland.

　　An Min, vice minister of MOFTEC presided over the forum and said that in the past seven years, with joint-efforts by business people on both sides of the straits, remarkable progress has been made in Cross-Straits economic and trade cooperation.

　　He said that his ministry will push forward Cross-Straits economic cooperation, encourage Taiwan people to invest in the mainland and take part in other economic activities, protect theirrights and promote Cross-Straits economic cooperation together with Taiwan businessmen.

　　He also called for Taiwan authorities to cancel all absurd limits on Cross-Straits economic cooperation.

　　Hong Shanxiang, vice minister of communications noted that withthe guidance of the "eight-point proposition", his ministry had made great efforts to push forward direct links in transportation.

　　Bao Peide, vice director of the General Administration of CivilAviation said that they had held over 100 seminars with Taiwan aviation experts on direct flights in the past seven years.

　　Tan Xiaowei, vice director of the State Post Bureau said that post departments on the mainland has tried hard to maintain directpostal links. He called for Taiwan authorities to open direct postal links to the mainland.

　　All forum participants called for earlier realization of three direct links in trade, transportation and postal services across the Taiwan Straits. Enditem