Taipei to host Shanghai delegation in rare high level visit

4/12/2024 16:27

        Taiwan's capital will host a rare high level Chinese delegation later this month when a deputy mayor of Shanghai visits for an annual city forum, a trip that will be happening at a time of heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
        
        Shanghai Vice Mayor Hua Yuan would visit from Dec. 16-17 for the Taipei-Shanghai City Forum, which was first held in 2010, Taipei city government spokesperson Yin Wei told reporters on Wednesday.
        
        China's official Xinhua news agency confirmed the forum would take place in Taipei this year.
        
        "Cross-strait city exchanges are conducive to enhancing the affinity and well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and promoting the peaceful development of relations," it said in a brief report.
        
        Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is from the main opposition Kuomintang party, which traditionally favours close ties across the strait and dialogue though denies being pro-Beijing.