BOAO, China (AFP) — Taiwan's vice president-elect left for home Sunday buoyed by a landmark meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao aimed at opening a new era in relations between the often fractious neighbours.
Vincent Siew's time with Hu may have been short -- 20 minutes behind closed doors -- but it was the highest-level contact between China and Taiwan in the six decades since the island split from the mainland in 1949.
"I hope the Boao forum can help spur the future development of trade and economic relations between Taiwan and China," Siew told reporters, referring to the regional gathering that provided the venue for his encounter with Hu.
This, in turn, could "spur peace and stability in the region," Siew said shortly before leaving for the airport.
The talks with Hu focused on economic issues, with Taiwan keen to improve trade ties to the Asian giant, as well as efforts to launch the first regular direct flights and boost tourism links.
Trade and economics were also on the agenda at a meeting between Siew and Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming on Sunday.
"The economies of China and Taiwan have different characteristics, and they are very complementary," Chen said according to a statement. "The room for development is enormous."
Arguably of more significance, however, were the optics coming out of the regional forum on the southern Chinese island of Hainan.
While China's state media was virtually silent on Saturday's meeting, state TV broadcast pictures of Siew and Hu chatting amiably, and the two men sat alongside one another at a state banquet in the evening.
Former US secretary of state Colin Powell, attending the same forum, hailed what he called "good news for the region" after himself meeting Siew.
"My assessment... is that all of this is very good news for the region, and that the two sides now have begun down a new path," Powell told reporters.
"I hope it's a path that leads to new areas of cooperation."
Last month's presidential election in Taiwan was won by Ma Ying-jeou partly on the back of promises to repair relations with China damaged by eight years of pro-independence rhetoric under outgoing head of state Chen Shui-bian.
China still claims Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, and has threatened war if it declares independence.
Ma has vowed to improve relations with China, increase trade, tourism and transport links, and work on a peace treaty to end decades of hostility.
Siew said his meeting with Hu was "friendly, candid and harmonious" and had produced results.
"There were results meaning both sides showed goodwill towards each other, which formed a foundation needed for continued dialogue," explained Su Chi, a leading member of the Taiwan delegation. "That's what we need at this moment."
Chinese state media Saturday quoted Hu as saying he hoped weekend charter flights between Taiwan and China would be launched "as soon as possible" and "mainland tourists would soon travel to Taiwan."
Su confirmed Sunday that more frequent charter flights, perhaps as early as July, might result from the talks.
However, planes would still need to traverse Hong Kong airspace, similar to chartered flights now linking the two sides during major Chinese holidays.
Actual direct flights remained a more distant prospect, Su said, but could materialise during Ma's four-year term.
Outgoing Taiwan President Chen, who will leave office at the end of a second and final four-year term on May 20, said China had an ulterior motive in engaging Siew.
"According to the information I received, Mr. Siew had not planned to attend the forum. He was invited by Beijing... because Beijing hopes to use the meeting to help lower its mounting international pressure over China's military crackdown on Tibetans" in the Himalayan region, Chen told a seminar.
However, Saturday's Hu-Siew meeting elicited praise from Taiwan's outgoing Vice President Annette Lu, an outspoken critic of Beijing, who said it had helped ease cross-Strait tensions.
However, strong forward momentum was not a given, analysts argued, saying each side had to tread carefully.
"The incoming Ma-Siew administration must be cautious that they do not alienate voters by being seen as rushing reunification," said Drew Thompson, director of China Studies at the Nixon Center in Washington.
"Hu Jintao cannot appear soft on Taiwan for fear that it makes him vulnerable to hardliners in Beijing, and he also has to be careful not to empower Taiwanese into thinking that China is getting 'soft'," he said.
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