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Ma meets Xi in Beijing
Former President Ma Ying-jeou has held talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing. The meeting took place in the Great Hall of the People and came as Ma was wrapping up his 11-day trip to China.
After greeting each other with an extended handshake in front of the press, Xi praised “Mr Ma” for upholding the “1992 consensus, opposing Taiwan independence, and promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait ties”.
Meanwhile, Ma thanked the Chinese side for the warm reception they've given the student delegation he has been leading to China - which he said had deepened their understanding of Chinese culture and shown that “blood is thicker than water.”
According to Ma, “although the two sides of the strait have developed under different systems, the people on both sides are descendants of the Yan and Yellow emperors and should work for the revitalization of China.”
Ma also acknowledged the recent tensions between the sides and he said that if a cross-strait conflict were to break out, it would have “unbearably heavy” consequences, but he believes that Chinese people on both sides of the strait have sufficient wisdom to handle their disputes and avoid a march toward war.
