Taiwan welcomes improvement in relations with China

Taiwan's president has said that China is adopting "new pragmatism and new sophistication" in its approach to the island.

Ma Ying-jeou's comments today came on the first anniversary of his presidency, widely viewed as having turned the corner on the formerly tense relations between the democratic island and the communist mainland.

Mr Ma said China's attitude toward Taiwan has changed recently "by attaching more importance to the prevention of Taiwan independence instead of promoting China's reunification".

China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949. Beijing still regards the island as part of its territory and has threatened war if it moves to make the break permanent.