The 13th annual twin city forum between Shanghai and Taipei kicked off virtually on Tuesday. This year’s forum will focus on resilience, sustainability, and humanity. The half day event opens amid criticism that it is being organized in an environment where China is increasingly pressuring Taiwan.
In a pre-recorded speech, Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je stressed the need for mutual respect and cooperation. Ko says the war in Ukraine has sparked much reflection over the cross-Strait relationship. He says dialogue is better than confrontation, and that avoiding conflict is the hope of people on both sides of the Strait.
Shanghai mayor Gong Zheng says the forum aims to increase mutual understanding between people on both sides of the Strait. He says people from China and Taiwan are “one family,” using a controversial phrase that claims both countries share a common destiny.
The Taipei-Shanghai City Forum connects officials from the two cities as well as members of civil society across both sides of the Taiwan Strait. This year’s event is the third year in a row the forum has been held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.