06 March 2005	Sunday	24 Muharram 1426

BEIJING, March 5: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Saturday that his government would never allow Taiwan's independence, but stressed that an "anti-secession law" to be passed by parliament is aimed at peaceful reunification of the island.

"This law represents the common will and strong determination of the entire Chinese people to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and never allow secessionist forces working for Taiwan independence to separate Taiwan from China under any name or by any means," Wen said.

"We will adhere to the basic principals of peaceful reunification and 'one country, two systems' ... to promote peaceful reunification of the motherland, safeguard peace in the Taiwan Straits and facilitate steady development of cross-Straits relations."

Wen was speaking at the opening session of the ongoing National People's Congress.

The congress is expected to pass the law at the final session of the 10-day conclave. The contents of the draft version of the law have yet to be publicly released.-AFP