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TAIPEI : Taiwan on Thursday reacted positively to Chinese President Hu Jintao's call for a truce with the island, in a further sign of rapidly improving ties between the formerly bitter foes.
"We're pleased to see cross-Strait ties developing on the axis of 'peaceful development,' under which the two sides can negotiate, launch exchanges and benefit each other," Taiwan's presidential office spokesman Wang Yu-chi said in a statement.
By calling a truce, the two sides "can terminate hostilities, further understanding of each other and bolster cooperation," he said.
The statement came a day after Hu called for military cooperation between the two sides in an address marking the 30th anniversary of a message from China to "compatriots in Taiwan" calling for peaceful reunification.
In his statement Thursday, Wang urged Beijing to take note of the differing views of Taiwan's people as its pro-China government pushes for detente.
Closer engagement with China "is the mainstream opinion here and has won comprehensive support from international community, but Taiwan is a democratic society whose people harbour different views towards the future of Taiwan... which we should respect," he said.
China and Taiwan have been governed separately since the end of a civil war in 1949 but Beijing considers the island part of its territory and is determined to get it back, by force if necessary.
But relations have improved dramatically since Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang party took office last May.
The two sides last month launched historic direct daily flights, postal and shipping services, in a move expected to boost trade ties.
- AFP /ls
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