TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Vice Shanghai Mayor Hua Yuan (華源) on Tuesday (Dec. 17) emphasized the deepening bonds between Shanghai and Taipei, highlighting the growing closeness and mutual benefits for Taiwanese residents in the city. Hua noted that the implementation of policies like the "Shanghai Protection of Investments of Taiwan Compatriots" (上海市台灣同胞投資權益的保護規定) has accelerated, offering Taiwanese investors better development opportunities.
Shanghai and Taipei have hosted their city forum for 14 consecutive years, resulting in 45 memorandums of exchange and cooperation. These agreements have fostered collaboration in economic, educational, and environmental sectors. Last year's agreements on green energy sustainability, exhibition marketing, and badminton have been actively implemented, enhancing cross-sector interactions.
Hua pointed out that 23,000 Taiwanese enterprises, including those from Taipei, have established themselves in Shanghai, with 22 companies making a notable appearance last month. The cultural exchanges have been vibrant, with Shanghai participating in the Taipei Lantern Festival (台北燈節) for 10 years and the Shanghai dragon boat team competing in Taipei, underscoring the cities' close cultural ties.
Over 500,000 visits from Taiwanese have been recorded at Shanghai ports, with over 200,000 being young people. Nearly 1 million Taiwanese have visited the mainland for the first time. Hua hopes the forum will catalyze cooperation in transportation, water services, healthcare, ecology, and culture, promoting mutually beneficial development between the two cities.
