A campaign to nominate Chinese president Xi Jinping, along with Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou, for the Nobel Peace Prize this year has began.

This plan by academics along the strait was made in the wake of the historic meeting between the two leaders in Singapore. That was the first meeting of a Chinese and Taiwanese president since 1949. This historic meeting carries with it a significant meaning for both countries, as well as for world peace.

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The proposal also considers president Xi's disarming of 300,000 troops, as well as 23 deals between China and Taiwan that covered trade, transit and investment, according to Taiwan-based Storm Media.

The campaign was reportedly initiated by Tsinghua University School of Architecture professor Alfred Peng Peigen.

Professor Peng has been joined by eight other signatories including former Tsinghua University president Gu Binglin; Renmin University diplomacy expert professor Jin Canrong; China Development Research Institute head Zhang Qi and Taipei-based Chinese Culture University chairman Dr. Chang Jen-Hu.

Professor Jin said the meeting of presidents Xi and Ma lowered the tension that risked sparking armed conflict between the United States and China.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said that this proposed nomination is something they did not plan. Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the office, said that the non-government move implies that the meeting had a good public reception.

"It also affirms the peaceful development of cross-strait ties since 2008," Ma added.

Despite the proposal, Xi's nomination is expected to face some challenges, as Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo is still in prison. There have also been reports of human rights lawyers being detained under Xi's tenure. Since he took office, there has also been increased censorship and tension in the South China Sea.

Nobel Peace Prize winner nominations can only be given by a select few people, which includes Norwegian Nobel Committee members, judges, professors and parliamentarians, as well as former Nobel Prize winners.

TagsMa Ying-jeou, Taiwan, Nobel Peace Prize