Ma, Xi hold historical meeting in Singapore

2015/11/09

Leaders from the two sides of Taiwan Strait met for the first time Nov. 7 in Singapore, turning a new page in the history of Taipei-Beijing relations.

During their one-hour meeting, ROC President Ma Ying-jeou and mainland Chinese leader Xi Jinping addressed each other by “mister” and discussed ways to deepen two-way exchanges. They were each accompanied by six senior officials and other staff members.

In his opening remarks, Ma said through this meeting, the two sides affirmed to the world their determination to safeguard cross-strait peace and promote regional stability.

“As we leave behind the history of separation spanning more than six decades, we are faced with the fruitful results from replacing standoff with dialogue and confrontation with rapprochement,” he said. “Our goal is to seek sustainable peace and prosperity.”

According to the president, given the historical vagaries, “the two sides need to look squarely at the facts and approach sensitive issues with patience, pragmatism, sincerity and wisdom.”

Taipei and Beijing have achieved collaboration and reconciliation through institutionalized negotiations in recent years, a result also in line with the expectations of the global community, he added.

Ma said a priority of his meeting with Xi is to reaffirm the 1992 consensus and maintain the peaceful status quo.

“The consensus is the foundation for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations,” he said, citing the 23 bilateral agreements concluded in the past seven years on a wide variety of areas that have created tremendous dividends and elevated relations to their most stable state in 66 years.

Going forward, Taipei and Beijing should continue to reduce animosity and resolve dispute in a peaceful manner, as well as expand two-way exchanges for mutual benefits.

In particular, the president called for speedy actions on pending issues, such as negotiating a trade in good agreement, establishing reciprocal representative offices and allowing mainland Chinese to transit through Taiwan.

Ma also urged Taipei and Beijing to strengthen collaboration to promote ethnic Chinese culture, and set up a high-level hotline to address urgent matters, beginning with the heads of Mainland Affairs Council and Taiwan Affairs Office.

The president called on the two sides to respect the values and lifestyle treasured by each other to ensure a win-win situation for people on both sides.

During the post-event press conference, Ma stressed that the meeting allowed leaders from the two sides to discuss the 1992 consensus for the first time. “The consensus refers to the mutual understanding that there exists only one China but with respective interpretations.”

“Other issues covered included Taiwan’s participation in regional economic integration, especially the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership,” the president said.

Equally important is the need for local nongovernmental organizations to expand their presence in international activities and heightened bilateral collaboration in higher education, he added.

Speaking before Ma, Xi said the two sides should draw inspiration from the development of cross-strait relations and continue to boost exchanges for the benefits of the people.

The mainland Chinese leader also hoped the two sides to work together in contributing to regional and global development, peace, prosperity and stability.

After the press conference, delegates from the two sides attended a dinner function before Ma joining with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for a casual gathering.

The meeting has generated wide attention among the global community. Following the event, U.S. Department Spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. welcomed the development and the historic improvement in cross-strait relations in recent years.

“We encourage further progress by both sides toward building ties, reducing tensions, and promoting stability on the basis of dignity and respect,” he added.

In a statement released by the European External Action Service, EEAS Spokesperson Maja Kocijancic praised the meeting as “an encouraging step, demonstrating the level of trust that has been built through the ongoing process of rapprochement.”

“The EU looks forward to the continuation of the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, to the benefit of the people on both sides of the strait.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=238634&ctNode=2194&mp=9)