Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou shook hands on Saturday afternoon in Singapore in the first meeting between leaders of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits since 1949, opening up a historic page in cross-Straits relations. [Photo/Agencies]

Xi-Ma meeting

President Xi Jinping and Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou met and had face-to-face talks in Singapore on Nov 7.

The meeting is the first between the leaders from both sides of the Straits in 66 years since 1949, hailed as a milestone for cross-Straits relations and a breakthrough in leaders' communication.

It gained much attention from the world though they weren't expected to sign any agreement nor deliver a joint communique but merely exchanged views on promoting peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.