Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

VP-elect meets Chinese president for historic talks

ROC Central News Agency

2008-04-12 19:04:14
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    Boao, China, April 12 (CNA) Taiwan's Vice President-elect Vincent Siew met with Chinese President Hu Jintao Saturday for the highest-level political contact across the Taiwan Strait in more than five decades.

    On the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia, Hu sat down with Siew for a low-profile but historic meeting that is expected to mark a watershed for long-stalled cross-strait relations.

    During the 20-minute talks, Hu said he looks forward to seeing the two sides pursue a consensus amid changing social and economic situations on both sides, according to footage shown on cable television station TVBS.

    For his part, Siew expressed hopes that Taiwan and China would set aside their disputes with pragmatism and work together to create a bright future that will see a win-win scenario.

    Siew arrived in Boao in southern China's Hainan province Friday to attend the Boao forum in his capacity as chairman of the private Taipei-based Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation. Siew headed a 12-member delegation composed of academics and business executives. Among the members is Morris Chang, chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp.-- the world's largest contract chip maker.

(By Sofia Wu)

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