Story highlights Presidents of China and Taiwan hold landmark meeting

Analysts say talks may be aimed at influencing upcoming Taiwan elections

(CNN) Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to shake hands, hold talks and share dinner with Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou Saturday in a landmark meeting that could reboot relations between the two rivals or drive them further apart.

Separated by a sea channel and decades of mistrust , the leaders of China and Taiwan -- officially the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China -- haven't met since the two sides split in 1949 amid a bloody civil war.

The meeting, which takes place in Singapore, will be governed by complicated protocol reflecting the bitter history between the two. How they greet each other and what gestures they make will be closely scrutinized.

Both leaders will eschew their presidential titles and address each other simply as "Mr."

In a Thursday press conference, Ma said that the two sides would split the hotel and meal bill.

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