A Historic Moment

On November 7， Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou held the first meeting between the leaders of both sides of the Taiwan Straits since 1949. In a respectful and constructive manner， the two leaders exchanged views on cross-Straits relations， with a focus on peaceful development and national rejuvenation. The exciting meeting has rightfully attracted the worlds attention， both for its historic nature and outcome.

The meeting was hard-won. After 1949， the two sides had been locked in confrontation. The ice had not been broken until the late 1980s， when exchanges began between the representatives of the two sides. But later the relations plunged into stalemate again when Taiwan separatist forces tried to gain independence.

The recent face-to-face meeting between the two leaders was made possible because of the joint efforts of people on both sides to restore historic ties and was prompted by the fruitful achievements from the peaceful and prosperous cross-Straits cooperation.

The cross-Straits relations are now at a critical juncture. The meeting between the two leaders at this time reflects the wishes of people and will make a positive impact on future relations in a multitude of ways.

First， the Xi-Ma meeting will promote peace in East Asia. Due to historical reasons， the mainland-Taiwan issue has been a potential source of conflict in the region. The 1996 Taiwan Straits crisis filled East Asia with the smell of gunpowder. Now， the two leaders have agreed to push forward the peaceful development of crossStraits relations and maintain peace and stability in the region.

Second， the meeting will bring the crossStraits relations to a new level. It will expand exchanges and deepen a win-win situation that will further benefit the people on both sides. During the meeting， Xi expressed a willingness to share the mainlands development opportunities with Taiwan compatriots， and expressed his positive attitude toward issues including commodity trade， setting up representative agencies of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and the Straits Exchange Foundation， Taiwans participation in the Belt and Road Initiative， and its accession into the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Ma also proposed to expand mutually beneficial crossStraits exchanges. The agreements will inject fresh vitality and promote cross-Straits talks and negotiations.

Third， the meeting will curb “Taiwan independence” activities， which have hampered the cross-Straits relations in recent years. Both leaders have stressed the importance of adhering to the 1992 Consensus. The consensus made it clear that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one China.

Finally， the meeting will deter foreign interference with cross-Straits relations. During the meeting， Xi said that Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits have the ability and wisdom to solve their own problems and make greater contributions to regional and world peace， stability and prosperity. Ma expressed that cross-Straits issues will be handled peacefully by both sides， and that the two will work together to create a more beautiful future for the next generation and rejuvenate the Chinese nation.

Although there are undoubtedly still difficulties in the relationship， the two leadersstatements indicate that the two sides are moving toward the direction of sharing the benefits of development and working together to solve problems.