Ma, who is due to take over the presidency from Chen on May 20, assured Chen and pro-independence supporters he will not sacrifice Taiwan's interests when seeking to improve ties with China.

"I love Taiwan no less than you,”Ma told Chen.“Please feel assured I will protect the country's sovereignty when you pass the responsibility to me.”

The two met at 10:30am and talked in the presence of the media for an hour at Taipei Guest House.

Chen repeatedly denied the existence of the 1992 consensus that states, according to Ma's account, Taiwan and China are both parts of a Chinese state even though they differ in its definition.

Chen warned that the consensus spells uncertainty about Taiwan's sovereignty, its ties with China, and its future destiny. Chen noted that Beijing has never said it will accept different interpretations of the one China principle, or the claim that the one China refers the Republic of China as Taiwan has argued.

But Ma pointed out that the consensus, struck between the two sides in 1992 without a written record, made possible the landmark meeting in Singapore between Taiwan's envoy Koo Chen-fu and his Chinese counterpart Wang Daohan in 1993.

"There would be no Koo-Wang meeting, if the consensus did not exist," Ma said.

Ma said he understood he could not convince Chen about the consensus during their meeting but added he will press ahead and reach out to China under the consensus.

"We will not sit at the negotiation table if Beijing would only recognize one China but refuse to allow its different interpretations," Ma said.“Let me try to end the cross-strait gridlock my own way. Don't worry that I will sell out Taiwan.”

Ma said that he has deep knowledge of past cross-strait interactions as he worked as Mainland Affairs Council vice chairman between 1991 and 1993, and has closely followed later developments.

By setting aside political disputes, Ma said he is confident the two sides can join hands and pursue greater economic prosperity for their peoples. To that end, Ma has said he will open direct flight services with China six months after he is sworn in.

Chen said he would give Ma his blessings in dealing with China as long as the KMT president-elect makes sure Taiwan is an independent sovereign country no matter what it is called.

Chen and independence supporters prefer to rename the country Taiwan whose territory includes the Taiwan proper and outlying islands.

During his eight-year reign, Chen refuses to recognize the one China policy or the existence of the 1992 consensus, saying the two sides only agreed to disagree and there should be no precondition for resuming cross-strait talks.

Beijing, in retaliation, refuses to have contact with the Chen administration.