China and Taiwan today launched first hotline between the two sides with an aim to build ties. Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed to set up the hotline between senior officials during a landmark meeting in Singapore in November. The summit was the first time leaders from the two sides had met since their traumatic 1949 split.
Chairman of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, Andrew Hsia talked with China’s top Taiwan affairs official Zhang Zhijun this morning. A statement from Mr. Hsia’s office said, the hotline is an important concrete outcome from the meeting of the leaders of the two sides. The statement added that Mr Hsia expects the two sides can communicate more smoothly in urgent matters through the hotline.