TAIPEI (TVBS News) — China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO, 國台辦) spokesperson Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮) said on Tuesday (Dec. 17) that promoting group tours between Shanghai and Taiwan aligns with the shared aspiration of cross-strait citizens to engage in exchanges. Earlier in the day during the Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum (雙城論壇), Shanghai Vice Mayor Hua Yuan (華源) announced that the city will actively promote said group tours for Shanghai residents to Taiwan.
Zhu noted that Shanghai's intentions reflect the common desires for peace, development, exchange, and cooperation between the people of Taiwan and China. This sentiment has been well-received by Taiwan's public and tourism industry, she added. Zhu emphasized the TAO's eagerness to see residents from Shanghai and other regions of China resume travel to Taiwan soon.
She also called on the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) authorities to lift restrictions that hinder cross-strait interactions and cooperation. She highlighted that the Twin-City Forum concluded with representatives from Shanghai and Taipei engaging in deep exchanges, reaching numerous positive agreements, and signing two memorandums of understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration between the cities.
However, Zhu criticized the challenges faced by the Shanghai delegation during this year's forum in Taipei. She accused the DPP authorities of deliberately obstructing the visit, resulting in some delegation members and journalists being unable to attend. Zhu described these actions as unreasonable and unpopular.
