Taipei - Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Sunday urged China and Taiwan to recognize each other's sovereignty.

"If the two sides recognize each other, the cross-strait problem will no longer exist," he said in an interview with the Taichung Radio Station, referring to the Taiwan-China feud which began with the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, which the Nationalists, who fled to Taiwan, lost.

Ma added that he hopes that when Chinese negotiator Chen Yunlin visits Taiwan this week for talks, Chen would call him "president."

Before Taiwan and China extend mutual recognition to each other, each side for the time being should not deny the other side's existence, Ma said.

Ma said that when Chen is in Taipei, he would meet Chen to welcome the negotiator. Ma urged the Taiwan public to give a courteous reception to Chen and avoid using violence if they want to express anti-China views after protestors attacked another representative from the mainland on a visit to Taiwan October 21.

The Taiwan-China dialogue is to take place in Taipei this week, beginning Monday. Taiwan and China were expected to sign four pacts - on direct sea links, direct postal service, expansion of weekend charter flights and food safety.

Ma was scheduled to meet Chen Thursday.

Taiwan's independence-leaning opposition Democratic Progressive Party insisted that if Ma is to meet with Chen, Chen must call Ma "president" to show respect to Taiwan, which claims it is a sovereign state currently recognized by 23 countries. (dpa)