Breakthrough China-Taiwan talks on June 11

China and Taiwan yesterday (May 29) agreed to reopen formal talks next month in a major breakthrough in relations between the long-time rivals.
The agreement to meet in Beijing from June 11 to 14 is significant in that it breaks an impasse lasting close to a decade.
It came a day after Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) chairman Wu Poh-hsiung met Chinese President Hu Jintao in the Chinese capital.
The dramatic thaw in relations was a clear sign of Beijing's eagerness to seize what it has described as 'a historic opportunity' to re-engage Taipei after eight years of stormy exchanges with the pro-independence government under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
The breakthrough is a huge boost to the one-week-old KMT government, which swept to power pledging to improve ties with its giant neighbour.
The talks will centre on two issues of immediate priority to Taipei: Launching weekend cross-strait charter flights and allowing mainland tourists to travel directly to the island.