Straits ties face historic opportunity

BOAO: Economic and trade exchanges between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan face a historic opportunity, Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said at the Boao Forum for Asia.

Hu made the remarks on Saturday while meeting with Vincent Siew, chairman of the Taiwan-based Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation, a non-profit group that works to improve economic collaboration between Taiwan and the mainland.

Hu said the mainland would continue promoting cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges; make efforts to push forward negotiations on weekend charter flights and mainland tourists' travel to Taiwan; and step up efforts to restore cross-Straits negotiations.