Taiwan President in historic meeting with Chinese envoy
TAIWAN: Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou made history Thursday
when he became the island’s first leader to meet with a senior Chinese
official since the end of a civil war in 1949.
Ma greeted Beijing’s top negotiator on Taiwanese affairs, Chen Yunlin,
at a government guest house in central Taipei amid tight security as
thousands of rowdy anti-China protesters vented their fury outside the
venue.
The two men shook hands and exchanged gifts.
Chen presented Ma with an ink painting of a horse, as “ma” is Chinese
for horse.
In his only comment during the meeting, the Chinese official told Ma:
“This is by a master artist.”Ma, who earlier this year became the
island’s third democratically elected president since 1996, gave Chen a
ceramic vase, making no audible comment.
Their meeting, which was broadcast live, lasted around five minutes.
Ma did make a short speech to a room packed with officials and their
wives, as well as television cameras and photographers, during which he
referred to the 60 years of hostilities between the two formerly bitter
enemies.
He said meetings this week between Taiwanese and Chinese officials,
which saw the two sides sign a range of economic agreements, “symbolise
a major step forward for cross-strait ties.”
“The development fits the expectations of the people of both sides
and will contribute to cross-strait stability and prosperity,” Ma said.
“But we cannot deny that differences and challenges still exist, such as
Taiwan’s security and Taiwan’s position in the international community.
Chen arrived for a five-day visit on Monday, becoming the most senior
Beijing official to step foot on the island since it was estranged from
China at the end of the civil war won by Mao Zedong’s communists in
1949.
He and Taiwanese counterpart Chiang Pin-kung signed four deals aimed
at drawing the two sides closer economically.
The pair agreed to introduce direct cargo shipping and postal
services, increase passenger flights and shorten routes across the
Taiwan Strait, and cooperate on food safety.
China promised to allow more citizens to visit the island, just 180
kilometres (110 miles) off its eastern coast.
Beijing regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and has vowed to
retake it with force if necessary, especially if it declares
independence.
Taipei, Thursday, AFP |
