The leaders of the parties in China’s civil war pledged yesterday to end hostilities when they shook hands for the first time since 1949, when the Kuomintang, or Nationalists, fled to Taiwan after their defeat by Mao Zedong’s Communist forces.

That historic handshake between Hu Jintao, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, and Lien Chan, leader of Taiwan’s opposition Nationalists, was aimed at easing tensions so fraught that residents of both Taiwan and China say they do not rule out the possibility of war.

"Our two parties should show the world that the Chinese people have the ability and wisdom to resolve our contradictions and problems," Mr Hu told the first leader of the Nationalists to set foot on mainland Chinese soil since Mao defeated Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek more than half a century ago.

The Nationalists had governed all of China since the end of the Qing dynasty in 1911 but then fled to Taiwan, where they insisted for decades that they remained the real rulers of the nation. Taiwan is still officially styled "the Republic of China".

But in 2000, the party even lost power in self-ruled democratic Taiwan, when President Chen Shui-bian swept to office on a policy platform of independence for Taiwan. The Kuomintang has since struggled to maintain its popularity, with an agenda that favours reunification with a democratic mainland.

Mr Lien’s ability to smoothe a path towards peace, and the formal end of decades of hostilities, is limited. While his trip may win Beijing’s trust, analysts say it could serve to widen the rifts in Taiwan society. He began his eight-day trip in eastern Nanjing, capital of China under the Nationalists.

"We should avoid any confrontation and collisions," he told his host. "What we want is reconciliation. We want dialogue... We can’t stay in the past forever, but we can seize the future."

But he added that it was up to Taiwan’s ruling party to make real progress towards peace. "I think a door has been opened."

Indeed, Mr Hu may have been speaking to his Kuomintang visitor, but his message was intended for Taiwan’s pro-independence president. His words were a warning that Chen may not only lose support at home if he pushes his agenda too far, but that Beijing could act upon new legislation that mandates the invasion of Taiwan should the island declare sovereignty.

Hu would have most of China’s 1.3 billion people behind him if he went to war. "Why is our president even meeting the leader of an opposition party in a province?" said one middle-aged Beijing businessman.

"We must take back Taiwan," said a young Chinese entrepreneur."But it’s good that Lien Chan comes here. It is really significant if it can bring peace."

Taiwan is a major potential flashpoint in Asia. While the United States has no official ties with Taiwan, it is the island’s main arms supplier and could be drawn into any conflict.

Chinese newspapers have splashed Mr Lien’s landmark trip across the front pages, publishing huge colour photos and triggering widespread discussion on the streets and alleys of the capital.

Mr Hu said that Mr Lien’s trip "had injected new vitality" into relations between Beijing and Taipei, which have no formal ties, despite surging trade and Taiwan investment estimated to exceed £60 million.

The two party leaders issued a statement that promised to promote Taiwan’s participation in international bodies. Beijing usually tries to block Taiwan’s effort to join such organisations as the United Nations.

The trip could yield one small harvest. Mr Lien was to present Mr Hu with six boxes each of bananas, pineapples, papayas and mangoes from his semi-tropical island. China could exempt Taiwan fruit from import duties to help the Nationalists win over Chen’s pro-independence supporters in southern Taiwan, a mainly agricultural region with a surplus of fruit.

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