What readers are talking about this week

A historical moment as China President Xi Jinping (right) shakes the hands of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou at Shangri-La Hotel on Nov 7, 2015. ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN

The historic meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Taiwanese counterpart Ma Ying-jeou in Singapore got readers talking this week.

Mr V. Balu and Mr Ong Soon Leong saw the meeting as raising Singapore's stature in being able to facilitate the first meeting between top leaders of the two sides since 1949.

Mr Cyril Seah Kwei Hiok lauded Mr Xi's declaration of continuing to pursue peaceful resolution of issues in the South China Sea and urged Asean to tap what China has to offer.

Readers were also concerned about reducing waste. Miss Lee Kay Yan suggested setting up food waste "digester machines" at hawker centres to turn food waste into fertiliser, while Mr Mathias Joel Joshua said incentives, such as tax deductions, might encourage more companies in the food industry to donate their unsold food.

To reduce paper use in the production of hongbao packets, Miss Jin Zhi Yan suggested making them smaller; she also urged companies to set up collection points for consumers to drop off their used hongbao packets for recycling.

Here are these letters:
Asean should tap what China can offer
Proud role for Singapore in Xi-Ma meeting
Republic can be trusted partner of world powers
Reducing paper use during CNY
Incentives for businesses can help
Turn hawker centre waste into fertiliser

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.