Mainland endorses self-organized cross-Strait meetings

A mainland spokeswoman said on Wednesday that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can arrange meetings between their leaders independently, rather than piggy-backing on international occasions.

"A cross-Strait leaders' meeting is an affair between Chinese people on the two sides of the Strait. It will not necessarily be on the sidelines of an international meeting," said Fan Liqing, spokeswoman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.

Fan was responding to a question about whether Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou should attend the informal economic leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) next year in Beijing so as to realize a meeting between leaders across the Strait.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, met Vincent Siew, honorary chairman of the Taiwan-based Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation, in the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Oct. 6 right ahead of the APEC meeting.

"We have long endorsed meetings between leaders across the Strait and will remain positive and open to any move that benefits peace and relations across the Strait," Fan said.

Zhang Zhijun, head of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, also met with Wang Yu-chi, Taiwan's mainland affairs chief, ahead the APEC meeting, and they agreed to have mutual visits.

When asked to comment about future meetings between Zhang and Wang, Fan said the two sides need further discussion.

Zhang and Wang discussed cross-Strait relations at the APEC meeting, which improved mutual understanding and their efficiency in handling cross-Strait affairs and will benefit cross-Strait relations, according to the spokeswoman.

"I would not suggest interpretations other than that," she added.

She also insisted that the communication between them will not change the current consultations between the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and its Taiwanese counterpart, the Straits Exchange Foundation.