TAIWANESE president Ma Ying-jeou yesterday vowed student protests over a controversial trade pact with China will not affect the potential for a meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping.

Taiwan's parliament building has been occupied by protesters for almost two weeks over the government's decision to agree to a deal to open up trade with China.

Taiwan and China have been ruled separately since 1949, though relations have warmed considerably since the China-friendly Ma won the presidency in 2008 and secured re-election in 2012.