Taiwan, China Leaders to Hold First Meeting since End of Civil War

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to hold talks with his counterpart in neighbouring Taiwan on Saturday. This is the first meeting of leaders from the two rivals since the Chinese civil war ended in 1949, coinciding with rising anti-China sentiment on Taiwan.The leaders would discuss a cross-strait ties at the meeting in Singapore, weeks ahead of elections in January which the pro-China Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT), is likely to lose to the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which traditionally favours independence from China.Ma Ying-jeou, the Taiwan President, who is expected to step down next year due to term limits, was said to have improved economic links with China. This is said to be a key policy since he took office in 2008. He has signed landmark business and tourism deals, though there has been no progress in resolving their political differences.