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| Taiwan president in historic meeting with Chinese envoy |
| Taipei, 06.11.2008 |
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| TAIPEI - Taiwan's democratically-elected President Ma Ying-jeou made history Thursday when he became the first leader of the island to meet with a senior Chinese official since the end of a civil war in 1949.
Ma greeted Beijing's senior negotiator on Taiwanese affairs, Chen Yunlin at a government guesthouse in central Taipei amid tight security as rowdy anti-China protests continued outside the venue.
The two men shook hands and exchanged gifts.
Chen, who is Beijing's most senior negotiator on Taiwanese affairs, presented Ma with an ink painting of a horse, as "ma" is Chinese for horse.
In his only comment during the meeting, Chen told Ma: "This is by a master artist."
Ma gave Chen a ceramic vase, making no audible comment as he did so.
Ma, referring to the 60 years of hostilities between the two formerly bitter enemies, made a short speech to a room packed with officials and their wives, as well as television cameras and photographers.
The meeting, which was broadcast live on television, lasted around five minutes.
Ma said the meeting "symbolises 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," he said.
"But we cannot deny that differences and challenges still exist, such as Taiwan's security and Taiwan's position in the international community."
In the future both sides should see the reality and should not deny each other's existence in order to promote the welfare of the people and cross-strait peace and to resolve our differences," he said.
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.
With his local counterpart Chiang Pin-kung he signed four deals aimed at drawing the two sides closer economically, but which have sparked widespread protests from supporters of formal independence for the island.
Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province and has vowed to retake it with force if necessary, especially if it declares independence. - AFP/vm
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