Hu Jintao, the current Chinese President, recently met with Tiawan's next Vice President, Vincent Siew. This was the highest level meeting between Taiwanese and Chinese officials since 1949.

Analysts believe that this meeting will set the stage for better Taiwanese-Chinese relations in the future. Taiwanese and Chinese media pictured the two men shaking hands at their meeting China's Hainan island, and said that the meeting was "great opportunity because of their [the two men's] pragmatism and low-key approach".

However, while most media sources were very positive about the meeting, a few were negative. One paper quoted a traditional Taiwanese saying, suggesting Mr Siew's visit to China was "like asking for a medical prescription from a ghost" - suggesting he was seeking help from someone who would cause harm. "Even if this is morphine or another kind of drug which will kill pain in the short term, it will kill Taiwan in the long-term," it said.

Former US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, an attendee at the forum, met Mr Siew and said he believed the talks were "good news for the region". Mr Powell told reporters that "the two sides have begun down a new path".