First Talk Between China, Taiwan Since 1949 Being Held In Singapore

Historic closed doors talk between China President Xi Jinping and Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou is scheduled to be held at 3 p.m. local time (7 a.m. GMT) at a luxury hotel in Singapore.

This is the first time leaders of the two countries are meeting for a talk since China’s civil was that ended in 1949 when the Kuomintang lost to the Chinese Communist Party and set up a new government in Taiwan.

The talk is being held just ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections in Taiwan and it is expected the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to wins, and this is something China is desperate to avoid.

Since 2008 when Ma has taken the chair, bilateral trade between the two countries has blossomed along with investment and tourism.

Before boarding flight to Singapore the Chinese President told to reporters, “I am here to promise to everyone, we must be doing our best to reach the goal that we set previously, making the Taiwan Strait more peaceful, making the two sides more cooperative.”

However, the talk is being seen as a symbolic get-together between the two countries and no agreements are expected in the Chinese city-state, Singapore.