Chinese President Hu Jintao offered talks on a formal peace accord with Taiwan on Monday. In a policy speech to a major Communist Party meeting, Hu stressed Beijing's preference for a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the 58-year-old conflict with Taiwan. «We would like to make a solemn appeal: On the basis of the one-China principle, let us discuss a formal end to the state of hostility between the two sides, reach a peace agreement,» Hu told the party and military elite gathered in the Great Hall of the People.
