China, Taiwan have highest-level contact in 60 years

Taiwan’s Vice President-elect Vincent Siew met with President Hu Jintao on the island province of Hainan on Saturday, marking the highest-level cross-strait talks in almost 60 years, the Wall Street Journal reported. The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia, last just 20 minutes but both sides were upbeat about the exchanges. Siew told reporters that the tone was cordial, candid and friendly. He called for the establishment of a direct cross-strait air service, starting with charter flights at weekends, and for mainland tourists to be allowed to visit Taiwan. Hu told state media that Beijing will push forward in the normalization of economic and trading ties with Taiwan. Ma Ying-jeou, president-elect of Taiwan, will take office on May 20.