Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je calls on China to understand and respect Taiwan’s insistence on freedom and democracy. The mayor was speaking at the 2016 Taipei-Shanghai Twin City forum on Tuesday.
The two cities have taken turns hosting the event since 2010.
Ko said while cross-strait ties have undergone tremendous changes over the past year, friendship between the two cities has remained unchanged.
Mayor Ko told the Shanghai delegation that mutual understanding and respect are key to cooperation.
"Taipei and Shanghai are the most free and civilized cities. The basis of freedom is tolerance," said Ko.
"Only by tolerating or even appreciating different views will [we] be able to build a free society and a civilized city. Therefore, while we understand and respect China’s insistence on certain issues, [we] urge China to understand and respect Taiwan’s insistence on freedom and democracy.”
The Shanghai delegation is led by a high-ranking political propaganda official Sha Hailin. Sha is in Taipei to attend the event on behalf of Shanghai Mayor Yang Xiong.