"No matter how long we stand a part and how many difficulties we go through,we are still family and blood is always thicker than water.

"We ought to show the world that we can solve our own problems and together make a greater contribution to the world," he said.

Ma, speaking at the press conference, regarded Saturday's meeting as "the first step toward achieving normalized meetings for leaders from both sides".

"It's quite strange that both leaders don't meet when cross-Straits relations have developed to today's level," Ma said, noting that such candid talks should be the usual arrangement.

Irreversible progress

Yin Cunyi, a professor in Taiwan relations at Tsinghua University, said Saturday's meeting has marked an irreversible progress in cross-Straits ties.

"The step has been taken, and it cannot move backward again. Any side which attempts to reverse the trend of peace and cooperation will lose the support of the people," he said.

The arrangement of the meeting was flexible and pragmatic, reflecting "the intimacy of family, instead of a diplomatic event', Yin said.

Chiou Jin-yi, a former official of the Taipei-based Straits Exchange Foundation, said: "The two sides have made progress over the years, and it is time to sit down and talk about the future.

"Xi's ambition for the Chinese Dream ought to include the part about Taiwan, but materializing such a concept is an issue worth discussion."

Zhang Haizhou and Peng Yining in Singapore contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at zhaoyinan@ chinadaily.com.cn and xingzhigang@chinadaily. com.cn