China and Taiwan to hold historic talks
Updated
China and Taiwan will this week hold historic talks aimed at building trust following decades of angry rhetoric and military tensions.
The four day meeting which begins in Beijing on wednesday would be the first step in a very long march towards a permanent thaw in ties.
The talks however would be held between two semi-official bodies as there are no direct government-to-government relations.
The focus would be on soft issues like tourism and direct travel.
Sensitive political issues and China's military build-up would be avoided while the two sides seek to lay the difficult foundations for greater trust and understanding.
Split at the end of a civil war in 1949, both China and Taiwan have spent billions of dollars preparing for another war against each other, with Beijing insisting that it will bring the island back into its political fold.
