Hu Jintao could meet new Taiwan vice president

Taiwan’s Vice President-elect Vincent Siew may meet Chinese leader Hu Jintao at a trade fair this week, Reuters reported. A meeting would represent a significant diplomatic breakthrough, since it comes shortly after President-elect Ma Ying-jeou’s landslide victory in last month’s elections. Ma’s campaign had pledged to improve ties with the mainland. Siew will be leading a Taiwan delegation to the Boao Forum For Asia, which is being held in the southern island province of Hainan. Hu is also said to be attending the event. A spokesman for the Taiwan delegation said Beijing hasn’t moved to block the delegation but couldn’t confirm whether there would be a meeting between Hu and Siew. Last week, the Taiwan regulators approved Fubon Financial’s purchase of a 20% stake in Xiamen City Commercial bank for US$34 million. It is the first investment by a Taiwan lender in China.