WUHAN: More than a 1,000
people gathered in Wuhan yesterday to attend a grand celebration of the 95th
anniversary of the start of the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty
(1644-1911).
The group included a delegation from Taiwan, composed of members of political
parties and business figures.
A series of activities are being held to commemorate the 1911 Revolution
(known as the Xinhai Revolution), led by Sun Yat-sen, which toppled the Qing
Dynasty and put an end to thousands of years of feudalist governance in China.
Addressing a commemorative conference, Secretary of Wuhan Municipal Party
Committee Miao Wei called the revolution "a symbol of change and a historic
moment when China was set on a new course."
He called for reunification of compatriots from across the Straits.
Representatives from three opposition parties in Taiwan, the Kuomintang
(KMT), People First Party and New Party, gave speeches at the conference urging
people to follow Sun in devoting their life to the reunification and
revitalization of the motherland.
KMT Mainland Affairs Department Director Chang Rong-kung said he is pleased
to see that ties between the two sides of the Straits are developing rapidly,
and that it is a common view of people on both sides to achieve common
prosperity.
Yok Mu-ming, president of the New Party, said he hopes the new generation in
Taiwan can pay more visits to the mainland in order to understand their roots.
"The celebration is quite significant, which will help young people both in
Taiwan and on the mainland review history and learn from their predecessors," he
said.
According to Huang Chuqing, director of the Taiwan affairs Office in Wuhan,
it was the first time three parties from Taiwan gathered together in one city on
the mainland, which showed the priority they have given the events.
Leaning on a cane, Chen Yuan, a man in his 80s who is a descendent of a
revolutionary, said he was very excited to attend the celebration, and his only
regret was not to be able to see the reunification of the motherland.
"The substantial way to carry forward the spirit of the Xinhai Revolution is
to make unremitting efforts to achieve reunification of the motherland," he
said.
The Xinhai Revolution began with the armed Wuchang Uprising in Wuhan on
October 10, 1911, as revolutionary ideas of Sun extensively influenced officers
and soldiers of the New Army in Wuchang.
