Chen Yunlin, president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) presents a painting of a horse ("Ma" in Chinese) to Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou (R) during a meeting at the Taipei Guest House in Taipei November 6, 2008. [Agencies]


TAIPEI -- Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou met with chief of mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Chen Yunlin in Taipei at 11:00 am on Thursday.

Ma and Chen exchanged gifts at the meeting in a hotel. Chen presented Ma a painting of a horse. Ma's surname means horse in Chinese language.

Ma gave Chen a fine porcelain.

The meeting lasted only five minutes, at which officials of ARATS' Taiwan counterpart, the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), were also present.

Chen is in Taiwan for a historic five-day visit at the invitation of SEF.

yuxiang granite and marble