DPP's Frank Hsieh meets Beijing's Taiwan affairs chief
Beijing's Taiwan affairs director holds talks with DPP heavyweight Frank Hsieh
The mainland's top bureaucrat on cross-strait affairs, Wang Yi, met the Taiwanese opposition heavyweight Frank Hsieh Chang-ting in Beijing last night.
Hsieh, a former premier of Taiwan, is the most senior representative of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party to visit the mainland. The trip has been seen as recognition by Beijing of the need to build a relationship with the opposition party should it return to power in four years.
Xinhua quoted the office's spokesman, Yang Yi, as saying: "State Council Taiwan Affairs Office Director Wang Yi met Mr Hsieh Chang-ting in Beijing today," emphasising that Hsieh is visiting the mainland in his personal capacity.
The statement went on: "Wang briefed [Hsieh] on the mainland's development and explained the mainland's Taiwan policy.
"Both sides agreed the meeting is beneficial," Yang said.
Beijing is watching Hsieh's mainland trip, which started in Xiamen on Thursday, for potential openings with the DPP. Analysts and Taiwanese politicians are watching closely to see whether during his trip Hsieh will meet the chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Jia Qinglin, the second most senior party official with responsibility for Taiwan affairs.