BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday expressed condolences over the passing of Yang Liyu, emeritus professor at Seton Hall University in the United States.
Yang devoted his life to the relations across the Taiwan Strait and advocated peaceful reunification of China with unswerving determination, said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, when responding to a query about Yang's death.
"He worked tirelessly to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, opposing separatist attempts for 'Taiwan independence,' unafraid of any slanders," Ma said. "We deeply mourn the passing of Yang. Although he has gone, his demeanor will last forever."
Yang Liyu, also known as Winston L. Yang, was born in east China's Jiangxi Province in 1934. On June 26, 1983, the then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping raised the six policies on realizing the peaceful reunification of the mainland and Taiwan during his meeting with Yang.
