Former leader lauds Beijing relations

Former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou hailed his November meeting with President Xi Jinping in Singapore as a historic breakthrough in building "a bridge of peace" across the Taiwan Straits and expressed hope that people from both sides would seek "in-depth mutual understanding".

He made the remarks in a pre-recorded speech presented on Wednesday at the awards presentation dinner of the Society of Publishers in Asia. The event was held in Hong Kong.

It was Ma's first public speech after leaving office on May 20. His Kuomintang party lost the election to Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party.