In a historic meeting between
Communist Party chief Xi Jinping and the head of Taiwan’s main opposition party, Beijing outlined a vision of peaceful relations with the island, shared development outcomes and greater dialogue.
“Compatriots on both sides are both Chinese, and we need peace, we need development, we need communication and we need cooperation. This is a common wish,” Xi told Cheng Li-wun, head of the Kuomintang (KMT), on Friday, in the first such talks between the two parties’ sitting leaders in nearly a decade.
Xi expressed full confidence that people across the Taiwan Strait would ultimately “get closer and get together”, according to footage of the meeting broadcast by Phoenix TV.
“The historical trend that compatriots on both sides of the strait will get closer and get together will not change. This is a certainty of the history, and we are fully confident,” Xi said at the outset.
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Peace is a ‘common wish’: Taiwan opposition leader meets Xi Jinping in Beijing in rare visit
Peace is a ‘common wish’: Taiwan opposition leader meets Xi Jinping in Beijing in rare visit
The last time a sitting KMT chief met with the Communist Party leadership was in November 2016, when then-chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu visited the mainland and met Xi.