TAIPEI - A highly anticipated meeting between Taiwan’s leader and a Chinese envoy has lasted only five minutes.
The historic meeting is the first for a Taiwan leader since the end of a civil war in 1949.
Mr Ma greeted Beijing’s senior negotiator on Taiwanese affairs, Mr Chen Yunlin at a government guesthouse in central Taipei amid tight security as rowdy anti-China protests continued outside the venue.
Mr Chen, who is Beijing’s most senior negotiator on Taiwanese affairs, presented Mr Ma with an ink painting of a horse, as ‘ma’ is Chinese for horse.
In his only comment during the meeting, Mr Chen told Mr Ma: ‘This is by a master artist.’
Mr Ma gave Mr Chen a ceramic vase, making no audible comment as he did so.
Mr 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.
Mr 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.
Mr Chen did not address Mr Ma by his formal title, ‘president’. He wasn’t expected to use the title because Beijing does not formally recognise Taiwan’s government.
Mr Ma decided to meet a Chinese envoy about five hours earlier than planned on Thursday in an apparent move to avoid rowdy protests that marred a dinner banquet the night before.
About an hour after the time change was announced, hundreds of demonstrators began to gather near the government guesthouse where the officials were to meet.
Streets around the venue were blocked off by metal barriers and riot police.
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Taiwan: 5-Minute Historic Meeting
AP
6 November 2008
TAIPEI - A highly anticipated meeting between Taiwan’s leader and a Chinese envoy has lasted only five minutes.
The historic meeting is the first for a Taiwan leader since the end of a civil war in 1949.
Mr Ma greeted Beijing’s senior negotiator on Taiwanese affairs, Mr Chen Yunlin at a government guesthouse in central Taipei amid tight security as rowdy anti-China protests continued outside the venue.
Mr Chen, who is Beijing’s most senior negotiator on Taiwanese affairs, presented Mr Ma with an ink painting of a horse, as ‘ma’ is Chinese for horse.
In his only comment during the meeting, Mr Chen told Mr Ma: ‘This is by a master artist.’
Mr Ma gave Mr Chen a ceramic vase, making no audible comment as he did so.
Mr 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.
Mr 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.
Mr Chen did not address Mr Ma by his formal title, ‘president’. He wasn’t expected to use the title because Beijing does not formally recognise Taiwan’s government.
Mr Ma decided to meet a Chinese envoy about five hours earlier than planned on Thursday in an apparent move to avoid rowdy protests that marred a dinner banquet the night before.
About an hour after the time change was announced, hundreds of demonstrators began to gather near the government guesthouse where the officials were to meet.
Streets around the venue were blocked off by metal barriers and riot police.
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