习主席和马英九将在新加坡举行历史性会面

Just weeks before Taiwan holds general and presidential elections, Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou announced he will hold face-to-face talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Singapore.

在台湾数周后即将举行大选之际，台湾总统马英九宣布将在新加坡与中国国家主席习近平举行会谈。

The meeting Saturday will be the first between Taiwanese and Chinese leaders since 1949 and authorities in China are predicting it will be a “major historic milestone” in the development of cross-strait relations.

定于星期六举行的此次会谈将是台海两岸领导人自1949年以来的首次会晤。中国有关当局说，这次会晤将是台海两岸关系发展过程中具有重大历史意义的里程碑。

In Taiwan, opposition politicians immediately voiced their concern about the talks and dozens began to rally in the capital, Taipei. Some called for the impeachment of Ma, noting that before he was re-elected to a second term in office, the president pledged to not meet with China's leaders or discuss unification.

但台湾反对派领导人对这次会谈表示担忧，数十人开始在台北举行抗议集会。马英九的发言人说，双方不会签署任何协议，并强调此次会谈旨在巩固两岸和平，维持台海现状。

According to Chinese state media, the “cross-strait leaders” will not address one another as president during the meeting, but instead call one another “Mister.”

中国国家媒体说，双方在会谈中不会以“主席”和“总统”相称，而是彼此称呼“先生”。

After holding brief talks in the afternoon, the two will hold separate press conferences and dine together in the evening.

习近平和马英九星期六下午举行简短会谈后，将分别举行记者会，并共进晚餐。

Relations between Taiwan and China have bloomed during Ma's tenure, but so has public concern -- especially among younger voters -- about the island's over-reliance on China.

马英九担任总统期间，台湾与中国的关系获得极大发展，而台湾民众，尤其是年轻一代的台湾选民则担心台湾过度依赖中国。

Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen said no private agreements will be signed during the talk.

台湾民进党发言人郑运鹏说，马英九可能在这次闭门会谈中与对方达成未经授权的协议。

Eric Chu, the Nationalist Party's presidential candidate, echoed China's position about the meeting, saying the talks would be an important milestone for cross-strait relations.

国民党总统候选人朱立伦表达了与中国相同的立场，即习马会将成为两岸关系中的里程碑。

In the United States, White House spokesman John Earnest welcomed the news, "The fundamental interest of the United States is in a stable and peaceful cross-strait relationship."

在华盛顿，白宫发言人欧内斯特对记者说，台海两岸维持稳定与和平的关系符合美国的根本利益。