Xi Jinping, President of China, met with Cheng Li-wun, leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party, in a rare high-level meeting on Friday focused on maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Cheng, who heads the Kuomintang (KMT), is the first sitting leader of the party to visit China in a decade.
The meeting took place at the Great Hall of the People, where both sides stressed the importance of stability and dialogue between the two sides of the strait.
“The leaders of our two parties are meeting today in order to safeguard the peace and stability of our shared homeland, to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and to allow future generations to share in a bright and beautiful future,” Xi said during the meeting.
He added that Beijing is willing to strengthen dialogue and exchanges with various political parties in Taiwan based on the shared political stance of opposing Taiwan independence.
Xi also reiterated that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese and share a common desire for peace.
Responding to the remarks, Cheng said the “rejuvenation of the Chinese people is a shared aspiration of the people on both sides of the Strait,” adding that closer engagement would contribute positively to global peace and human progress.
The visit comes amid strained cross-strait relations following Beijing’s decision in 2016 to suspend formal communication channels with Taiwan after the election of Tsai Ing-wen from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as president.
China had objected to Tsai’s refusal to endorse Beijing’s “one China” principle, which views Taiwan as part of a single Chinese nation.
The DPP has criticised Cheng’s visit, accusing the opposition leader of being overly accommodating toward Beijing.
Beijing continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the self-governed island under its control.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have refused to hold formal dialogue with Taiwan’s current president, Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has labelled a “separatist”.
Lai has repeatedly stated his commitment to maintaining the status quo in cross-strait relations. However, Chinese officials and state media have sharply criticised him, describing him as a “troublemaker” and a “warmonger”.
Public opinion in Taiwan remains divided on the island’s future. While most residents view Taiwan as a sovereign entity, many also favour maintaining the current status quo rather than pursuing formal independence or unification with China.
