8 NOVEMBER 2015

Ø  Vice-President Li Yuanchao of China on Friday focussed on the achievements of India-China cooperation, especially in the South Asian region, to mark his visit to India. Addressing a gathering of entrepreneurs and businessmen here, Mr. Li paid tributes to the spirit of new ventures in South Asia. aiwan and China have identified a broad agenda of engagement, including talks to narrow down differences over a “one-China” formulation, easing security tensions and collaboration in Beijing-led connectivity projects, following historic talks after a gap of 66 years, between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Taiwanese counterpart Ma Ying-jeou. As they assembled for talks in Singapore, President Xi called his meeting with President Ma as “historic.” “This is a very special day, and a new chapter in history,” he added. Mr. Xi pointed out that a seven-year effort by both sides had culminated in Saturday’s meeting. “This is a very special day, and a new chapter in history,” he observed. Mr. Ma reciprocated, with matching enthusiasm, by pointing out Saturday’s meeting was not for his personal benefit but for that of the next generation. History, he added, has left a series of “complex and perplexing issues” that needed to be resolved. On sensitive issues, the two sides should confront reality and deal with any problems using wisdom, patience, sincerity and pragmatism. Analysts point out that both leaders have a tough task ahead of bridging their gap on their perception of a “one-China” concept that the two neighbours had flagged in 1992 when they had agreed that that there was only one China, but acknowledged their differences on its interpretation. In his remarks, President Ma noted that China and Taiwan needed to make progress in consolidating the consensus reached in 1992.