Singapore: China&rsquo;s President Xi Jinping and his Taiwanese counterpart Ma Ying-jeou kick-started a historic summit on Saturday in Singapore, the first such meeting between Chinese and Taiwanese leaders since the end of a civil war in 1949.
<img title="China and Taiwan" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/nov/08-China-Taiwan.jpg" alt="China and Taiwan" />
The two leaders shook hands for about a minute and 10 seconds at the start of the talks, which was seen as largely symbolic, at the Shangri-La Hotel.
&ldquo;Today will be remembered in history,&rdquo; Xi said in opening remarks before a closed door meeting with Ma. &ldquo;No force can pull us apart, because we are brothers who are still connected by our flesh even if our bones are broken, and we are one family,&rdquo; Xi told Ma.
Ma echoed Xi&rsquo;s sentiment, saying, &ldquo;At this very juncture, both sides of the Taiwan Strait are loudly declaring our determination for peace and the message of promoting peace in the region.&rdquo; The talks came ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections in Taiwan, in which the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is favoured to win.

Irish Prime Minister gets Twitter outlash for abortion law

&ldquo;We are brothers who are still connected by our flesh,&rdquo; said Chinese Pres Xi Jinping to Ma Ying-jeou&nbsp;

China and Taiwan presidents meet first time since 1949

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / News / World News / Article / China and Taiwan presidents meet first time since 1949

China and Taiwan presidents meet first time since 1949

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast