Singapore, Nov. 7 (CNA) Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has agreed to a proposal by his Taiwan counterpart Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on setting up a cross-Taiwan Strait hotline, an official said Saturday.

Xi said the two sides of the strait should strengthen their exchanges and dialogue to increase political mutual trust, said Zhang Zhijun (張志軍), the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), during a news conference held after a historic meeting between the two leaders in Singapore.

Xi believes a cross-strait hotline will help both sides communicate with each other and avoid miscalculations, Zhang said.

Xi was responding to a proposal put forth by Ma during the meeting that a hotline be set up between the chiefs of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council and the TAO to deal with emergencies and important matters.

(By Hsieh Chia-chen and Y.F. Low)
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Post-meeting press conferences:
●Ma: Taiwan to solidify '1992 consensus' to pursue cross-strait peace
●President Ma finds Xi 'pragmatic, flexible and frank'
●Taiwanese concerned about China's military threat, Ma told Xi
●Xi welcomes Taiwan's bid to join AIIB
●President Ma mentions 'Republic of China' in meeting with Xi