Taiwan and China Shake Hands

Beijing representative Chen Yunlin (left) shakes hands with Taiwanese counterpart Chiang Pin-kung in Taipei this week. (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)

In the highest-level talks between China and Taiwan in nearly 60 years, leaders from both sides shook hands, talked, and made major trade deals this week, in a historic meeting across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwanese chief Ma Ying-jeou and Beijing's senior Taiwan envoy, Chen Yunlin, met yesterday in Taipei, amidst a backdrop of hundreds of slogan-shouting pro-Taiwanese independence protesters -- wary of any ties with mainland China.

The meeting was just one of many Chen has had with Taiwanese representatives since Nov. 3. The visit culminated in the signing of several trade and transportation agreements.

One such deal is a new direct airline route that will significantly cut the lengthly travel time that planes currently take to stop in Hong Kong first, before heading to either China or Taiwan.

First an African-American elected President of the United States, and now Chinese and Taiwanese leaders are getting along? What a week!