Shanghai Mayor Yang Xiong speaks to a reporter in this 2009 file photo. (Photo : Xinhua)
Officials from Shanghai and Taipei signed on Tuesday four memorandums of understanding (MOU) at the opening ceremony for a forum on cooperation and exchanges between the two cities.
"In recent years, 19 MOUs have been signed by Shanghai and Taipei, and the four new ones will deepen our exchanges and cooperation," Shanghai Mayor Yang Xiong said during the forum.
According to Yang, the "profound friendship and cooperation" between Shanghai and Taipei has strengthened since 2010 when previous Shanghai mayor Han Zheng visited the Taiwanese capital.
One of the MOUs signed was on public transport, including plans to develop a travel card that people could use in both cities.
The Shanghai-Taipei forum, an annual event held in rotation between the two cities, is aimed toward promoting practical and efficient exchanges as well as cooperation on various sectors, including trade, education, health, science and technology, Yang said.
"The forum is an important platform for our two cities to cooperate with each other," Yang added, noting that the exchanges between Shanghai and Taiwan have served as a framework for other cities in mainland China and Taiwan.
Yang said that, for this year's forum, the focus will mostly be on "city development and young entrepreneurs."
Shanghai can learn from Taipei in many ways, including the establishment of a "smart city" and healthcare facilities, as well as "cultural inheritance and development," he said.
"Shanghai wants to take its work with Taipei to a higher level to promote economic and social development and improve the well-being of people in both cities," Yang added.
In response, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je said that the forum is "significant for the two cities" and has "formed a bridge for cross-Strait communication."
"Insisting on the spirit that our two sides belong to one family, I believe that the cross-Strait communication and the city-to-city forum should be carried out or held with four principles, namely mutual awareness, mutual understanding, mutual respect and mutual cooperation, so as to promote exchanges and increase goodwill between us," he said.
"I will not refuse to do things that will benefit the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and I will do everything that will benefit cross-Strait communication and improve the well-being of both our peoples," Ko added.
Yang said that the youth will "represent the future" of the two cities and both governments should "focus more on development of the young population."
"We should provide more chances and platforms for young people to use their abilities and realize their potential in helping the cities to innovate and develop," he said. "We might also help them to become partners, working together and making a bigger contribution to the joint development of our cities and the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations."
