The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Beijing

The leader of Taiwan's new ruling party met Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday in a symbolic closing of the ranks between the rivals.

The visit by Wu Poh-hsiung, chairman of Taiwan's Nationalist Party, was to boost economic ties, but a live televised meeting with Hu, also boss of China's Communist Party, showed the political side of the trip.

Beijing has threatened in the past to attack Taiwan if the self-ruled island seeks permanent independence, but the rhetoric has become decidedly more amiable since Nationalist Ma Ying-jeou took office as Taiwan's president a week ago. An upbeat Wu told reporters after the hour-long meeting that he had stressed that the first priority was to launch weekend charter flights and open up Taiwan to mainland tourists.

Wu also said he stressed to Hu that Taiwan needed an international presence. China has worked hard in recent years to isolate Taiwan diplomatically and cut it off from anything that legitimizes its sovereignty.

"The Taiwanese people need a sense of security, respect and a place in the international community," he said.

Hu thanked Wu for Taiwan's aid for the Sichuan earthquake that killed tens of thousands earlier this month.

"For half a month, people from all circles in Taiwan have expressed their concern, love and their generous support," Hu said.

"The love for compatriots shown by the whole Chinese people in time of disaster will become the power to drive cooperation between the compatriots across the strait and create the future together," he said.

Hu was shown on television shaking hands with members of Wu's delegation before all posed for a group photo.

Chinese leaders have already expressed their support for proposals by Ma for direct weekend flights between the mainland and Taiwan, and for expanding the number of mainland tourists allowed to travel to the island.

In the last century, the Nationalists fought a bloody civil war with the Chinese Communists on the mainland. The Nationalists' defeated forces fled in 1949 and settled on Taiwan, separated by a 100-mile (160-kilometer) wide strait. China demands unification.