Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, delivered a speech at the grand gathering held in Beijing Tuesday to mark the 60th anniversary of China's recovery of Taiwan from Japan.

The speech is titled Strive for peaceful reunification of the motherland and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Jia said that it is of great significance to mark the return of Taiwan from Japanese colonial rule 60 years ago.

The Chinese people's victory in the Resistance War against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) ended the Japanese colonial rule over Taiwan for 50 years so as to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Jia.

He noted that after 1840 the Chinese nation suffered a great deal from aggression and bullying by imperialist powers, with the occupation of Chinese territory Taiwan by Japan being the most miserable.

In the same historical period the Chinese people rallied and fought for the mission of national salvation, and the struggles of Taiwan compatriots against Japanese aggressors were an important part of patriotic struggle of the Chinese nation against imperialism.

During the struggles of half a century, 650,000 Taiwan compatriots sacrificed their lives, and their sacrifices testified to their Chinese identity as inalienable members of the Chinese nation, Jia said.

The resistance of Taiwan compatriots against Japanese colonial rule reflected the great spirit of the Chinese nation, he added.

Jia said the ceding and recovery of Taiwan as well as other historical facts concerning Taiwan proved that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory.

Taiwan returned to China 60 years ago both de facto and de jure. The return of Taiwan to China is undeniable, and the legal status of Taiwan as an inalienable part of China's territory is beyond doubt, and can never be challenged, he said.

Editor: Yan