China President, Taiwan ruling party chief meet 1st time in six years

TOKYO, May 4 (KUNA) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met the chairman of Taiwan's ruling party, the highest level talks between the two sides in six years, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. During the meeting with Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu in Beijing, Xi, who also serves as general secretary of the Communist Party of China, called for both sides to build a community of shared destiny and settle political differences through equal consultations, the report said. "We are willing to give priority to Taiwan in opening-up. Our efforts to open up to Taiwan compatriots will be bigger," Xi was quoted as telling Chu, who was elected KMT chairman in January. "The two sides can consult with each other on equal basis under the principle of One China, and reach a reasonable arrangement," Xi said. It was the first Xi-Chu meeting was the first such high-level talks between the two sides since 2009. Chu also attended the 10th Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum, a regular meeting between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, on Sunday in Shanghai.
In remarks opening the event, Yu Zhengsheng, top political advisor and senior leader of the Communist Party of China, said the mainland and Taiwan should discuss ways for the island to participate in the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. China and Taiwan separated after a civil war in 1949, but Beijing still sees the island as its territory and has threatened to use force if Taiwan moves towards declaring independence. Taiwan's relations with China have eased since Ma Ying-jeou, who has pledged to improve ties with China, first became Taiwan's president in 2008. (end) mk.rk