Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou shake hands at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, marking the first face-to-face exchange and communication between the two leaders across the Taiwan Straits since 1949.
Highlights:
The dinner was scheduled at the 100 square meters State Room at the Shangri-La Hotel. Seven people from each part attended and the two sides split the bill. Labels for the guests' names and the menu were in simplified and traditional Chinese.
Ma Ying-jeou left the hotel with ruddy cheeks after the dinner.
Menu of the dinner after the cross-Straits meeting between Xi and Ma
Cold dishes
Pig Skin Slices with Gold Foil
Abolone slices with soy sauce and crisp melon
Hot dishes
Hunan-style Fried Lobster with Scallions
Glutinous Rice and Miniatus Grouper with Bamboo Leaves and XO Sauce
Dongpo Pork
Sautéed Lily Bulbs and Asparagus
Staple Food
Sichuan Spicy Dandan Noodles
Desert
Snow Clam with Sweet-scented Osmanthus
Fruit Salad
Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou sat side by side at the dinner table, with other 12 officials from both sides sitting alternately. Ma brought two bottles of 1990 Kinmen Gao-Liang liquor and eight jars of his favorite Matsu old wine. [Photo via reporter Qinfeng's Weibo account]
Xi Jinping made a four-point proposal Saturday on relations across the Taiwan Straits in a historic meeting between leaders across the Straits in Singapore.
After a closed-door meeting between Xi and Ma Ying-jeou, Zhang Zhijun, the mainland's Taiwan affairs chief, told a press conference that Xi, during the meeting, called for adhering to the common political consensus of the two sides, referring to the 1992 Consensus reached between the two sides that endorses the one-China principle.
"The peaceful development of cross-Strait relations over the past seven years lies in adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing Taiwan independence," Xi was quoted by Zhang.
Xi called for consolidating and deepening the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, stressing that "they are at the best period since 1949" and that the biggest threat is Taiwan independence force.
He also called for boosting well-being of people on the two sides, and promoting cultural and education cooperation.
In addition, Xi called on the two sides across the Straits to make joint efforts to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, according to Zhang.
Xi Jinping told Ma Ying-jeou Saturday that no force can pull apart the two sides across the Taiwan Straits which are "one family."
The 66-year history of the development of cross-Straits relations shows that no matter how much ordeal the two sides have undergone and how long the two sides have been isolated from each other, they cannot be pulled apart, Xi said at a historic meeting between leaders of the two sides in Singapore.
"We are brothers who are still connected by our flesh even if our bones are broken," Xi said.
Ma Ying-jeou told Xi Jinping Saturday that the two sides should consolidate the consensus of the one-China principle and make contributions to the revival of the Chinese nation.
In the historic, first ever meeting between leaders from across the Taiwan Straits in 66 years, Ma told Xi that the 1992 Consensus with the one-China principle is the common political foundation for advancing the peaceful development of the cross-Straits ties.
"We should consolidate the 1992 Consensus, and maintain the peaceful status quo," Ma said in one of his five-point proposals.
Ma suggested that the two sides reduce hostility and resolve disputes in peaceful means, while expanding cross-Straits exchanges in a bid to achieve win-win outcomes.
Heads of Taiwan's mainland affairs body and the Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs organ should set up a hotline to deal with emergency and important issues, Ma suggested.
Ma added that the two sides should cooperate and be committed to the revival of the Chinese nation, as the peoples of the both sides across the Straits are all Chinese descendants.
"The cross-Straits relations are at the most peaceful and stable period since 1949," Ma noted.
He cited that in the past seven years the two sides have signed a total of 23 agreements, with over 40,000 students exchanging across the Straits, over 8 million cross-Straits tourists annually and an annual trade volume worth over $170 billion.
Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou hold talks at the Shangri-la Hotel in Singapore, November 7, 2015.
Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou show up from the right and left side of the hall respectively.
Xi Jinping wears a red tie, while Ma Ying-jeou sports a blue one.
Both Xi and Ma keep smiling during the whole process.
Both leaders said at the meeting that the two sides shall stick to the 1992 Consensus, which means that there is only one China.
Xi and Ma shook hands for one minute and 10 seconds before both waved hands to reporters and crowd for another 30 seconds.
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.
According to reports from Taiwan media, Ma will present two gifts to the president. One is a handmade china carving of a blue magpie. The bird is an endemic species living in the mountains of Taiwan. Ma will also reportedly take 8 jars of vintage rice wine made locally in Taiwan to the banquet in Singapore Saturday night.
Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou arrived in Singapore at 10:30 on Saturday. He will meet President Xi Jinping at around 15:00. Tune in to CCTVNews for the live coverage of their meeting.
Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou has set off for Singapore, where he will meet with President Xi Jinping on Saturday. During his brief speech before departure, Ma said this is the right time for the two leaders to meet.
