SINGAPORE - Singapore said it was glad to facilitate the historic meeting on Saturday (Nov 7) between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou.

"Building on the foundation of the 1993 Wang-Koo talks, this successful meeting has established a precedent for top leaders of both sides to directly engage each other," said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesman in response to media queries.

In 1993, Singapore played host to the so-called "Wang-Koo" meeting that saw Taiwan and China discuss bilateral ties. Several agreements were reached at that meeting between the heads of the two-semi-government bodies - Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation chief, Mr Koo Chen-fu, and chairman for China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, Mr Wang Daohan - to further cross-strait economic, cultural and technical exchanges.

The MFA spokesman added: "As a good and long time friend of both sides, Singapore has consistently supported the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, including direct dialogue between the two sides of the Strait and the institutionalisation of cross-strait exchanges.

"We look forward to sustained peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which will enhance the security and prosperity of our region."