《TAIPEI TIMES》Twin-city forum to be based on equality: Chiang

By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an （蔣萬安） yesterday said the Shanghai-Taipei Twin-City Forum would be held on the principles of equality, dignity, goodwill and reciprocity.

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During a question-and-answer session at the Taipei City Council on Tuesday, Democratic Progressive Party （DPP） Taipei City Councilor Chien Shu-pei （簡舒培） asked when the annual forum would be held and whether Chiang would insist on the three principles that he mentioned during his election campaign last year.

Chiang in May last year said the conditions for holding the forum would be “the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] no longer harasses Taiwan, shows kindness to Taiwan and [both sides] have equal status.”

He also said that “insisting on the Republic of China’s [ROC] sovereignty and recognizing the fact of divided governance” is a crucial foundation for cross-strait exchanges.

Chiang on Tuesday said the forum would likely be held in August.

Regarding Chien’s question, he only said the city government would follow the central government’s rules, and insist on the principles of equality, dignity, goodwill and reciprocity.

Asked if the Shanghai City Government has asked to see a draft of the speech he would deliver at the forum, Chiang said he would not give the draft to Shanghai.

Asked whether the Taipei City Government would make the forum’s agenda public, he said that it would be presented to the Mainland Affairs Council （MAC）, and released if the council allows it.

Asked to elaborate on the issue, Chiang yesterday said his attitude toward the forum is clear: Follow the ROC Constitution, and the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area （臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例）, and attend the forum only after obtaining approval from the MAC.

President Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文） and Vice President William Lai （賴清德） recently said that cross-strait interactions should resume now that the COVID-19 pandemic is over, and the MAC has recognized the forum, Chiang said.

The forum gains more importance and has a positive meaning during times of high tension across the Strait, he said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES