Xi calls for peaceful development of cross-Straits ties

By WU JIAO IN BALI, INDONESIA ( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2013-10-06

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Sunday met with Vincent Siew, honorary chairman of the Taiwan-based Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation, at the Bali Island on the sidelines of the 21st informal economic leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

During the meeting, Xi said that it is important for the mainland and Taiwan to take advantage of the historic opportunities, in a bid to keep the good momentum of the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. 

Xi noted that enhancing cross-Straits political trust and consolidating common political basis are “crucial” to ensuring peaceful development of cross-Straits ties. 

"(We should) set our eyes on the future,” said Xi, adding that the political differences between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan “should eventually be solved step by step, and (we) can not let these problems hand on from generation to generation,” Xi said.

Xi advised that the principals of departments-in-charge from the two sides may meet and exchange ideas for cross-Straits affairs.

Siew hailed the development of cross-Straits relations over the past five years, saying Taiwan and the mainland should enlarge and deepen economic and trade cooperation, so as to sustain development in cross-Straits relations.

It is the second meeting between Siew and Xi since the latter became the president in March. Their first meeting took place on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia held in April.

Shortly after the meeting, Zhang Zhijun, the mainland's Taiwan affairs top official, had a brief chat with Wang Yu-chi, Taiwan’s official in charge of mainland affairs. Both of them have participated in Xi’s meeting with Siew.

The brief meeting has been reported as the first direct contact between the duo.

Wang proposed that they should realize mutual visit, which Zhang agreed to, according to a press release by the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office.

Zhang said he welcome Wang to visit the mainland “at a proper time”.