Ten years ago, in a historic first since 1949, Chinese mainland leader Xi Jinping met leader of the Taiwan region Ma Ying-jeou in Singapore, paving a new path for cross-Strait dialogue. This Friday, scholars and changemakers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait gathered in Xiong'an and Taipei to revisit that milestone and explore its lessons for today's complex regional landscape.
In Xiong'an, experts from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Taiwan Studies joined researchers from Taiwan authorities to underline how the 1992 Consensus—anchoring the one-China principle—remains the bedrock for stability. Institute head Zhu Weidong stressed that adherence to this shared framework has been key to preserving peace and should guide future engagement.
'As long as both sides cherish the 1992 Consensus, cross-Strait ties enjoy peace and prosperity,' Zhu said, warning that deviation can bring turbulence and setbacks.
Taiwan history researcher Chi Chia-lin called the 2015 summit a 'landmark event' that built political trust after decades of tension. 'It showed a successful model of positive cross-Strait interaction,' she noted, highlighting how dialogue transformed exchanges in culture, trade and more.
Meanwhile in Taipei, a seminar co-hosted by the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Xi-Ma meeting. Chinese Kuomintang Chairperson Cheng Li-wun pointed to record levels of people-to-people and economic exchanges between 2008 and 2016 as proof that the 1992 Consensus can ease tensions and fuel growth.
'Only in a peaceful cross-Strait environment can Taiwan's development prospects expand,' Cheng said, stressing that stable ties open doors for residents of Taiwan to a brighter future, while misguided policies risk isolating the island region.
Across both seminars, a clear message emerged: reflecting on past milestones can offer guidance for navigating today's challenges, reminding global citizens that dialogue and shared frameworks are vital for sustainable peace and mutual benefits.
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Chinese mainland, Taiwan hold seminars to mark historic Xi-Ma meeting
cgtn.com
