The office of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou on Nov 5, 2015, clarified that such a meeting had been under discussion since the APEC Summit in 2013 and that its purpose is to "to consolidate cross-strait peace and maintain the status quo by reviewing the past and looking to the future". Recalling that the "23 agreements signed over the past seven years had brought about the most stable and peaceful period in cross-strait relations in 66 years", the statement said "the task now is to further reduce ill will". It stressed that "no agreement will be signed and no joint statement released".

In its statement issued on Nov 7, 2015, the Foreign Liaison Office of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that "after shaking hands, the two leaders got down to business, reviewing the course of cross-strait relations and exchanging views on maintaining their peaceful development. President Ma put forth five points to perpetuate the peaceful and prosperous status quo, calling on both sides to take to heart the values and way of life cherished by the people. The meeting proceeded in a frank and cordial manner". Ma Ying-jeou called on mainland China to recognize that only cross-strait relations founded on dignity, respect, sincerity, and good will can promote mutual trust and understanding, and thus go the distance. The statement said the "meeting in Singapore between President Ma and mainland Chinese leader Xi set a precedent for regular meetings between leaders of the two sides. As the beginning of the further institutionalization of relations, it will lay the foundation for regular cross-strait interaction, leading to deeper mutual trust".