China, Taiwan set to hold historic talks

China and Taiwan are set to begin highest-level talks, which will be the first since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.

According to Taiwanese officials, Wang Yu-chi, the head of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, arrived in Nanjing, the capital of Chinese eastern province of Jiangsu, early on Tuesday for talks.

Wang is to meet with his Chinese counterpart Zhang Zhijun on the first day of a four-day visit.

The talks are mainly aimed at mutual economic relations, with Beijing trying to push Taipei to pass a free trade agreement, halted in Taiwan’s parliament.

“My main aim during this visit to the mainland [China] is to promote mutual understanding between the two sides,” Wang said.

The historic meeting comes almost after a 65-year split following a civil war, in which millions of people lost their lives.

China says Taiwan belongs to its territory, while Taiwan still calls itself the Republic of China.

The United States has defended Taiwan militarily during the years of skirmishes.

Washington’s stance has sparked a decades-long military stand-off between China and the US.

Relations between China and Taiwan have got back on track since Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou came to power in 2008.

Ma, also the chairman of the Kuomintang Party, had pledged to enhance economic ties between China and Taiwan. He was re-elected in 2012.

In June 2010, Beijing and Taipei signed the landmark Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement.

The pact was seen as the boldest measure towards economic reconciliation.