BEIJING, China — Chinese President Xi Jinping met Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday and said he has “full confidence” that people in Taiwan and China will move toward unification, according to statements reported by Taiwanese media.
The meeting marked the first visit in a decade by a leader of Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) party to China. Cheng’s trip has drawn criticism in Taiwan, where opponents have accused her of being overly aligned with Beijing.
Xi said the “general trend” of closer ties across the Taiwan Strait “will not change” and described unification as “an inevitable part of history,” according to the remarks.
Cheng said during the meeting that she hoped tensions in the Taiwan Strait would decrease and called for a political framework to prevent conflict.
China cut off high-level official communication with Taiwan in 2016 after the election of President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party, which Beijing views as rejecting its claim over the island.
Relations have remained strained under President Lai Ching-te, with China conducting frequent military operations near Taiwan and holding large-scale drills in the region.
In a statement posted on Friday, Lai said China’s military activity has undermined regional peace and stability.
Cheng also visited Shanghai and Nanjing during her trip, where she paid respects at the mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen, a historical figure recognized in both Beijing and Taipei.
