Andrew Torchia reports in the Reuters:
China, expanding its pledges to help neighbouring economies ride out the global financial crisis, said on Saturday it was willing to meet requests for assistance from political rival Taiwan.
Ties between China and Taiwan, separated since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, have warmed since Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou took office in May. On Monday the two sides opened direct daily passenger flights, new shipping routes and postal links for the first time in six decades.
“We deeply sympathise with the economic difficulties faced by Taiwan and sincerely hope to cooperate on steps to cope with the international financial crisis,” said Jia Qinglin, the fourth most senior leader of China’s ruling Communist Party.
