2015年CRI Wang-Koo Meeting Witness Welcomes Historic Xi-Ma Meeting（在线收听）

The "Wang-Koo meeting" refers to a meeting held in Singapore in April 1993 between Wang Daohan, head of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, and Koo Chen-fu, chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation. The meeting paved the way for the improvement of cross-Strait ties.

Ch'iu Chin'i, former vice chairman of the Taiwan Straits Exchange Foundation, says he has been waiting for this moment for 22 years.

"I am really moved and excited, because it is the first time for the leaders from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to have such a meeting after 22 years. The hand-shaking is a historic moment. This is an epoch-making milestone for cross-Strait relations."

Ch'iu says he hopes the meeting will be a good momentum that will let Taiwan participate in the dream of the Chinese nation, and then be involved in the programs like the 'Belt and Road' initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Meanwhile, Taiwan businesspeople in the Chinese mainland have expressed their confidence for the future development of cross-Strait relations after the historic meeting.

At present, over 50,000 companies in the Chinese mainland are owned by Taiwan business people. 

Chou Feng-chen, is with an association representing Taiwan businesspeople based in south China's Guangdong province.

She says they all expect cross-Strait exchanges to be better facilitated.

"Of course we expect the cross-Strait exchanges to become smoother, simpler and easier. For example, we will transfer investment to the service sector. In addition to restaurants, we will invest in education or the finance sector in the Chinese mainland. It will be easier for us to do this. So I think these are our expectations."

Hsu Hsueh-jung, a Taiwan businessman in Jiangsu Province, says he believes people in Taiwan will be relieved by this historic meeting, which will benefit the environment for businesses.

"I believe this historic meeting will make us Taiwan people more relieved. So we can do more sincere and friendly businesses and push forward further communications. This is the most important."

Latest stats from the Ministry of Commerce show trade between the mainland and Taiwan reached some 138 billion U.S. dollars in the first nine months of this year.

Mainland imports from Taiwan more than tripled that of exports to the island during the period.

Taiwan is the mainland's seventh largest trade partner and the sixth largest source of imports.

For CRI, I'm Xie Cheng.