Taiwanese and Chinese leaders exchange direct messages for first time in 60 years

July 27th, 2009 Taiwan, China leaders exchange 1st direct messagesTAIPEI, Taiwan — The Taiwanese and Chinese presidents swapped messages Monday, the first such exchange since the two sides split amid civil war 60 years ago. They did so in their capacity as ruling party leaders, rather than as heads of state, to skirt the disputed issue of Taiwan's sovereignty.

July 21st, 2009 No plans for Taiwan-China military meetingTAIPEI, Taiwan — A Taiwanese military spokesman said Tuesday that officers from the island have no plans to meet with counterparts from China at a conference in Hawaii next week, contradicting reports that such a meeting was in the works. The statement by Maj.

June 30th, 2009 Taiwan opens door for Chinese investmentTAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan has opened up key parts of its manufacturing and service sectors to Chinese investment as another barrier falls between the once bitter foes. The new rules announced Tuesday are part of President Ma Ying-jeou's ambitious effort to move Taiwan's economy closer to that of China, and foster a dialogue aimed at ending six decades of mutual bitterness and distrust.

May 31st, 2009 China sends large group to buy Taiwanese goodsTAIPEI, Taiwan — A group of Chinese computer and home appliance manufacturers arrived Sunday with plans to buy billions of dollars worth of goods and components from Taiwan, officials and news reports said. Officials from 46 Chinese companies, including big manufacturers such as Lenovo and Haier, have joined the buy-Taiwan group, group leader Li Shuilin said.

May 4th, 2009 Taiwanese tycoon challenges Buffet's investmentTAIPEI, Taiwan — A Taiwanese business tycoon has criticized U.S. investor Warren Buffet's decision to invest in a Chinese battery and car maker allegedly involved in stealing trade secrets.

May 4th, 2009 Taiwanese tycoon challenges Buffett's investmentTAIPEI, Taiwan — A Taiwanese business tycoon has criticized U.S. investor Warren Buffett's decision to invest in a Chinese battery and car maker allegedly involved in stealing trade secrets.

April 30th, 2009 In a first, Taiwan allows Chinese stock investmentTAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwanese stocks surged Thursday after the island's government said it will allow Chinese institutional investors to buy into its stock market for the first time since the two sides split amid civil war 60 years ago. The decision announced late Wednesday is a major milestone in Taiwan's rapidly developing economic ties with China and the first step in a wide-ranging financial cooperation program it launched with the mainland just last weekend.

April 26th, 2009 China, Taiwan sign agreements to boost cooperationBEIJING — China and Taiwan signed three agreements Sunday that will enhance economic ties between the rivals and increase the frequency of flights, amid efforts by Taiwan's president to improve relations with Beijing. One agreement, signed at a meeting in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing, sets the stage for financial services firms to open branches in each other's territory, according to China's official Xinhua News Agency.

April 26th, 2009 China, Taiwan hold talks on economic cooperationBEIJING — Negotiators from China and Taiwan were expected to sign a financial cooperation pact Sunday amid efforts by Taiwan's president to improve relations with Beijing. The agreement would allow banks to open branches in each other's territory, according to Chiang Pin-kung, the Straits Exchange Foundation president and Taiwan's top envoy to the talks in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing.

April 25th, 2009 China, Taiwan to increase economic cooperationBEIJING — Envoys from rivals China and Taiwan meet this weekend to discuss a trade agreement and sign pacts to increase economic cooperation. The talks come as Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou tries to develop more amicable relations with the mainland following strains over his predecessor's pro-independence stance.

April 25th, 2009 China, Taiwan open talks on economic cooperationBEIJING — Envoys from rivals China and Taiwan were in talks on a trade agreement and preparing to sign pacts to increase economic cooperation amid efforts by Taiwan's president to improve relations with Beijing. Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou is pushing for an agreement to ease trade barriers, which he says is needed to keep Taiwan competitive.

April 24th, 2009 Taiwan and China to increase economic cooperationTAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan and China will discuss a partial free trade agreement and sign pacts this weekend to increase economic cooperation, a senior Taiwanese negotiator said Friday. The statement by Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Chiang Pin-kung comes amid efforts by President Ma Ying-jeou to turn the corner on his predecessor's pro-independence policies and open a new era in relations with the mainland, from which Taiwan split during a civil war in 1949.

April 19th, 2009 Taiwan receives 3,000 Chinese tourists per dayTAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan has reached its goal of hosting 3,000 Chinese tourists a day as ties between the two rivals continue to strengthen, the government said Sunday. Chinese tourist arrivals averaged 3,013 people per day so far this month, compared with the daily average of 580 over the past eight months, the Immigration Agency said on its Web site.

April 18th, 2009 Taiwan to discuss trade agreement with ChinaTAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan will discuss a partial free trade agreement with China and sign pacts to enhance economic cooperation during high-level talks in late April, negotiators said Saturday. President Ma Ying-jeou has worked aggressively since taking office last May to turn a corner on his predecessor's anti-China policy and improve economic and trade ties with the mainland.

March 15th, 2009 RANCHI - After distributing medicine kits and condoms in Jharkhand, the postman will now deliver pamphlets and other messages of political parties to the voters. 'We have been approached by some political parties and probable candidates to deliver their messages to voters through our Direct Post services,' an official in Ranchi postal department told IANS.