TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) called for a reduction in Chinese military activity around Taiwan at a twin city forum attended by Chinese officials on Monday.
The 15th Taipei-Shanghai City Forum is being held at the Regent Taipei. Chiang began his speech by noting the challenges faced by Shanghai's delegation in coming to Taiwan.
He said that maintaining 15 years of exchanges had not been easy and should not be taken for granted, per Mirror Media.
Chiang told the Shanghai delegation, “I often say that the more tense and difficult the moment, the more communication is needed. It is better to increase understanding than to increase misunderstanding,” said Chiang.
The mayor said that while the forum facilitates exchanges aimed at urban governance and development, these efforts ultimately center on people. He reiterated his commitment, since assuming office, to building a "people-oriented city."
He said that “a good twin-city forum leads to a good cross-strait relationship.” Chiang added, “Peace is precious, conflict is unwise. Although the road to peace is winding, it is worth our efforts.”
Notably, Chiang referred to himself in front of the CCP officials as the “democratically elected mayor of Taipei.”
The mayor then appealed for increased dialogue, peaceful initiatives, and cooperation: “I think we need more dialogue and less confrontation; more olive branches of peace and less sour grapes of conflict; more fishing boats lighting up the sunset and less roaring from ships and planes.”