President Xi meets Taiwan politician(2)

During the meeting, Xi also voiced his hope of improving institutional levels of economic cooperation by accelerating negotiations on follow-up issues regarding the 2010 Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement.

Ways to promote common economic development and regional economic cooperation should be discussed in the proper capacities, Xi said, adding that the two sides should work hard to wrap up negotiations on the trade in goods and dispute settlement issues by the end of 2013.

He also called on compatriots across the Taiwan Strait to jointly work toward achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Siew hailed the development of cross-Strait relations over the past five years, saying Taiwan and the Chinese mainland should treasure the "fruitful" achievements and deepen mutual trust and cooperation, so as to make greater achievements in promoting cross-Strait relations.

Yang Yi, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, described the meeting between Xi and Siew as "positive" and "fruitful," at a briefing in Boao on Monday.

Yang said that the two sides exchanged views on the development of cross-Strait relations, especially ideas on strengthening cross-Strait economic cooperation.

Both sides praised the achievements that have been made over cross-Strait relations in the past five years, according to the spokesman.

The two sides agreed to deepen mutual trust and cooperation in order to bring more benefit to the people from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, Yang added.