China, Taiwan presidents shake hands at historic summit

First summit commenced between leaders of two sides since their 1949 civil war split

Singapore

: The Presidents of China and Taiwan exchanged a historic handshake on Saturday as they began the first summit between leaders of the two sides since their 1949 civil war split.

China's Xi Jinping and Taiwan's Ma Ying-jeou shook hands, smiled broadly and waved to a huge pack of assembled media at a hotel in Singapore before going behind closed doors for the landmark talks.