SINCE the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, no ministerial-level Communist official has set foot in Taiwan. That changed on June 25th when Zhang Zhijun, head of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, accepted an invitation from his counterpart, Wang Yu-chi, and visited in hopes that the democratic island nation might one day be wooed into the Chinese fold.

Perhaps the visit was bound to take place sooner or later. China has long claimed Taiwan as its own; Taiwan’s president since 2008, Ma Ying-jeou, has long tried to ease mutual hostilities. He has signed business agreements with the mainland that have led to a surge in cross-strait trade, investment and travel. Yet many Taiwanese worry that economic integration will undermine their lively democracy. Earlier this year, students occupied Taiwan’s parliament in a protest against yet another agreement, this one intended to boost trade in services with China. The pact has stalled.

So perhaps most surprising was another meeting of Mr Zhang’s, with the mayor of the southern city of Kaohsiung, Chen Chu. She is a prominent member of the opposition, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and a passionate supporter of Taiwanese independence.

In the past China has lambasted the DPP. Yet Mr Zhang, who has a reputation as a poker-faced diplomat, was all twinkled-eyed geniality. At times with Ms Chen, he even broke out of Mandarin and into the native Taiwanese.

Later he claimed that China respected Taiwanese people’s choices—including, presumably, their politics. He invited Taiwanese of all political persuasions to participate in the development of cross-strait relations. That, too, was rare. With Mr Ma a lame duck, China may be preparing to hold its nose and deal with a DPP government after elections in 2016. Ms Chen’s welcome of Mr Zhang in Kaohsiung, heartland of the independence movement, also suggests a new pragmatism on the part of the DPP. It needs to persuade voters that it can manage relations with China.

Though dogged by rowdy protesters, Mr Zhang kept up cheerful appearances. It all stands in contrast to China’s rows with other Asian nations over maritime claims, as well as its denouncing of protesters in Hong Kong (see article) calling for more democracy.