"We think that dialogue between the People's Republic of China and the authorities, leaders on Taiwan (island) is the best way forward," Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said when asked to comment on the talks. Siew arrived Friday at the Boao resort, on the east coast of the tropical Chinese island of Hainan, where he was scheduled to meet for 20 minutes with Hu on Saturday as part of the Taiwanese delegation.

Siew said Friday he hoped to "melt the ice" with China in the much-anticipated meeting, described as the highest level direct contact between Beijing and Taipei since the two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949.

Negroponte said the United States was committed to stability in the Taiwan Strait.

"We believe that the best way to settle differences over the Taiwan Strait is by peaceful means," he said.

"So yes, I would say that this is a good way forward," he added of the Hu-Siew meeting at the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia, a regional gathering. Siew was Ma Ying-jeou's running mate when the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang candidate won Taiwan's presidential election last month.