(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-12 11:27

WASHINGTON - The United States welcomed on Friday an upcoming meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vincent Siew from Taiwan, saying that it was "the best way forward" to improve cross-strait relations.

The United States thinks that dialog is the best way forward, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said, responding to a question from reporters.

"We believe that the best way to settle differences over the Taiwan Strait is by peaceful means," he said. "So yes, I would say that this is a good way forward," he added.

Vincent Siew, leader of the Taiwan-based Cross-Strait Common Market Foundation delegation, arrived at Boao, a scenic town in the island province of Hainan in south China, on Friday afternoon to attend the annual conference of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA). Siew is expected to attend a round-table conference on cross-strait trade in Boao on Sunday.

President Hu will meet the Taiwan entrepreneur delegation headed by Vincent Siew on Saturday, according to Long Yongtu, secretary-general of the BFA.

It is the sixth time for Siew to head the Taiwan delegation for the BFA since 2003.

The 2008 BFA annual meeting is scheduled to be held from April 11-13 with the theme of "Green Asia: Moving Toward Win-Win Through Changes".

Established in 2001, the BFA has become the premier platform for discussion and debate on economic development in Asia.