Rivals China and Taiwan meet for first talks in six decades

The leaders of bitter rivals China and Taiwan have met for talks for the first time since splitting amid civil war 66 years ago. The historic meeting saw Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou (pictured left) shake hands for more than a minute at a hotel in Singapore. Mr Jinping said the two political foes were “one family” adding “no force can pull us apart” while Mr Ying-jeou said peace should be promoted across the Taiwan Strait. He also asked China to respect Taiwan’s democracy indirectly.

Both sides should respect each other’s values and way of life.

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou

No agreements will be signed between the two sides and the gathering is seen as more of a symbolic gesture of coming together after decades of division and mistrust. China’s Nationalists retreated to Taiwan after losing the civil war in 1949 to the Communists, who are still in charge in Beijing. The mainland has never renounced the use of force to bring what it considers a breakaway province under its control. While bilateral trade, investment and tourism have grown there is deep suspicion on both sides and no progress has been made on any sort of political settlement.