February 19, 2014

China, Taiwan hold historic talks



In a major breakthrough, China and Taiwan on Tuesday held their first high-level talks since they split 65 years ago after a brutal civil war to deepen mutual trust being built with initiatives during the last few years.
 Taiwan's mainland affairs chief Wang Yu-chi held talks on the first day of a four-day trip with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office head Zhang Zhijun in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing.
The meeting was the result of years of gradual efforts to improve political ties.  Wang's visit is considered as an important breakthrough in promoting cross-Strait relations on the basis of adhering to the "1992 consensus" and deepening mutual political trust, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.  "Both sides should make up our minds to never let cross-strait relations again become tormented and never go backward," Zhang was quoted as saying in the report.
"I believe that as long as we walk on the right road of peaceful development we should and certainly can get closer in the future."  Beijing follows one China policy under which Taiwan, which separated in 1949, was regarded as part of the mainland.  After decades ofhostilities, the two sides warmed during the past few years with a host ofinitiatives including improving trade relations. Before his departure from Taiwan, Wang told local media that he hopes to improve understanding and exchange views with his mainland counterpart.