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Taiwan's President Ma to meet with China's President Xi in first such meeting since 1949

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2015 file photo, Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou delivers the keynote speech during the National Day celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan. Ma Ying-jeou will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, to exchange ideas about relations between the two sides but not sign any deals, presidential spokesman Charles Chen said in a statement. (AP Photo/Wally Santana) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2015 file photo, China's President Xi Jinping attends a meeting of the second Understanding China Conference, in Beijing, China. Xi Jinping will meet Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou n Singapore on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, to exchange ideas about relations between the two sides but not sign any deals, presidential spokesman Charles Chen said in a statement. (Jason Lee/Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

A presidential spokesman says Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore on Saturday. It will be the first such meeting of leaders since the two sides split in 1949 during a civil war.

Spokesman Charles Chen says the meeting will be aimed at strengthening peace across the Taiwan Strait and that there will be no agreement or joint declaration signed.

Ma is stepping down as president next year after his maximum two terms, during which the ruling Nationalist Party has lost favor over its pro-China policies.

The statement said Taiwanese officials will hold a news conference about the meeting Wednesday, and Ma will hold another one on Thursday.