The leaders of the two Chinas met, shook hands, and held historic talks in Singapore on Saturday, in what was their first after 66 years of being apart.

The two sides separated in 1949 when the Kuomintang lost in a civil war with the Chinese Communist Party and built up their new government in Taiwan.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou shook hands before the talks which was seen by global observers as a symbolic gesture between the two leaders.

Ma said the meeting was "cordial and friendly" but no major deals or agreements have been reached by both sides.

The talks was held on neutral grounds during President Xi's first state visit to Singapore from Friday to Saturday.

Ma said the talks centered mostly on his proposal to President Xi to reduce hostilities across the Taiwan Strait, expand economic exchanges and create a cross-strait hotline.

Taiwan's central news agency said Mr. Ma also proposed the consolidation of the "1992 consensus" under which both sides recognize the "one China' policy" but interpret it in their respective ways.

"Both sides should respect each other's values and way of life," Mr Ma said as the talks began at a luxury hotel with other Taiwanese officials.

In his reply, President Xi told the leader 'We are one family."

Political observers said relations between China and Taiwan have improved tremendously under the leadership of President Ma since he took office in 2008.

Taiwan has benefited from open economic trade with China as well as a tourism boom over the years.

Reports indicate that the Taiwanese leader decided early on not to bring up the disputes in the South China Sea.with the Chinese leader.

Ma's political party the Kuomintang' has been seen as pro-Beijing, paving the way for warmer ties between the two sides.

Taiwan's opposition party, however, pushes for independence from China and has been staging rallies to oust Ma from office.

Speculations were rife that Ma secretly arranged the meeting with Xi in an effort to raise the moral of his party's supporters after Kuomintang candidates were crushed in the local polls by the opposition who has  been rejecting  reunification with China.

China considers Taiwan as a breakaway province which will be reunited with the mainland. China has been quoted as saying that it will use force in the event that Taiwan pushes for independence.

TagsTaiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, historic talks, Kuomintang, Chinese Communist Party