The 2024 Shanghai-Taipei City Forum commenced on Tuesday in Taipei, marking a significant step towards enhanced cooperation between the two cities. During the opening ceremony, memoranda of cooperation were signed in smart health care and in the exchange and conservation of red pandas.
Hua Yuan, deputy mayor of Shanghai, addressed the attendees, emphasizing that this year’s forum theme—”Smart governance, sustainable future”—reflects the shared aspirations of people from both cities for integrated development and progressive urban growth. He expressed hope that the forum would serve as a catalyst for deepening practical cooperation in areas such as transportation, water management, health care, and environmental protection.
“We encourage residents from Taiwan and Shanghai to visit each other’s cities,” Hua said, announcing that Shanghai will promote group tours to Taiwan. His remarks highlighted the importance of people-to-people exchanges in strengthening cross-strait ties.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an noted that despite multiple challenges, Taipei and Shanghai have consistently held the forum annually. “In tense and difficult times, more cross-strait communication is needed,” Chiang said. “Increasing understanding is far better than increasing misunderstanding.”
The forum featured three sub-forums where representatives from both cities shared experiences and engaged in discussions on topics including friendly transportation cooperation, river management, and the development of culturally vibrant cities. These dialogues underscored a mutual commitment to sustainable and innovative urban solutions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
