“This is not about an election, but is based on the considerations of the happiness of the next generation,” he said. “It is out of the hope of making the first step toward making exchanges between leaders on both sides of the Taiwan Strait a regular occurrence.”

Will the meeting change the status quo in Taiwan and move the island towards unification with the mainland?

Ma said Taiwan had no plans to change the status quo, which was the “mainstream view in Taiwan” and was backed by all three candidates in the forthcoming presidential poll.

“Since maintaining the status quo is the mainstream public opinion [and is beneficial to cross-strait relations], I’ll surely speak to Mr Xi about it,” he told reporters.

He reiterated that “status quo” meant “no independence, no unification, no use of force” and insisted that the mainland and Taiwan reserved the right to define in their own ways how to define the “One-China” principle.

What will be discussed during the Singapore meeting?

 Ma said he would raise how to reduce hostility between the two sides and how to increase Taiwan’s role around the world.

“Taiwan has for quite some time encountered no small amount of trouble participating in international events and we frequently hear from the public about this, especially non-governmental organisations,” he said.

 “Therefore at this Ma-Xi meeting we will raise the issue and hope to come to some agreement about it and allow Taiwan to have an expanded international space.”

Ma said they may also discuss a cross-strait trade agreement.

What is not on the agenda?

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea

Why hold the meeting now?

Ma said the timing was a result of negotiations, as the two leaders were “very busy”.

“Originally I wanted to meet him at Apec [in Manila later this month], but since the other side does not have time there was no other option.”

What was the role of the United States in the meeting?

Ma said the US was told beforehand about the summit and its government responded very positively as stability in the Taiwan strait was in its interests.

Ma said the US did not play any role in setting up the meeting.

Do the current arrangements mean the meeting will be held in a dignified way and on an equal footing?

The president said he would not mind being addressed as “mister” instead of his official title because he would only address Xi as “mister”, too. He said it would only be undignified if he called Xi by his official title, but the mainland’s president did not follow suit.

Ma’s impressions of Xi:

“I haven’t met him so I don’t have any impression of him. I’ll let you know what I think of him after I’m back.”

Will there be any secret deals made?

Ma said the meeting would be transparent, with “no secret deals or promises” made.

Xi and Ma will speak to the press before their meeting on Saturday afternoon and will hold press conference separately afterwards to talk about how the talks went.

“We will try our best to be transparent and open and at the same time show dignity and equality,” he said.

Will the dialogue between the two sides’ leaders continue after a new president assumes office in Taiwan next year?

Ma said it depended on the attitude and measures adopted by his successor.

“We can’t predict who will be president next year, but what I can do is to build the bridge in my term of office so that no matter who takes office he or she will be able to walk on the bridge and cross the river quickly,” he said.

Will Ma bring his wife to Singapore?

Ma said his wife would not go with him. “It is not that I don’t want to bring her along. She doesn’t want to go with me,” Ma said.

Will he wear the national pin on his jacket as he did at Thursday’s press conference?

Ma said: “No, if he [Xi] wears his, then it would be embarrassing.”