SHANGHAI, May 7 (Xinhuanet) --
Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China
(CPC), Chen Liangyu, met with the visiting Taiwan delegation led by Chairman
James CY Soong of the People First Party (PFP) here Saturday.
During their meeting, Chen said
Soong's mainland tour was a major event that would help the dialogue and
exchange of the CPC and PFP. He said the visit would contribute to the
improvement and development of cross-Straits relations, peace and stability
along the Taiwan Straits and further exchange and cooperation between the
Chinese mainland and Taiwan.
Many Taiwan compatriots have
invested, run businesses, studied or bought houses in Shanghai. The city has
become a hotspot for cooperation and exchanges between Taiwanese and
mainlanders, he said. He said he hoped the PFP's mainland visit will further
push exchange and cooperation between Shanghai and Taiwan.
"Shanghai's achievements
incorporate Taiwan compatriots' wisdom and hard work," he said.
"As long as it is beneficial to
the Taiwan compatriots, the improvement of cross-Straits exchange, the peace and
stability in the Taiwan Straits and the promotion of China's peaceful
reunification, we will do our best," he said.
In his speech, Soong said
Shanghai's progress is a point of pride for all of China. The offspring of
Huangdi and Yandi, who are regarded as the common ancestors of all Chinese, are
proud of it.
Shanghai's development shows that
sound policy and decision-making are very important, he said.
"The reason why we choose Shanghai
this time is that we will fail to understand the mainland's achievements through
reform and opening-up if we don't come to Shanghai. And we'll not understand
Taiwan businessmen's eager hope for 'three direct links' and the mainland's
development potential and prospects," said Soong.
Soong empathized that while Taiwan
businessmen have contributed to Shanghai's prosperity, Shanghai has offered
assistance to Taiwan businessmen.
"The mainland and Taiwan people
are of the same family, who, if loving and caring for each other, will together
create desirable vision for the Chinese nation in the 21st century," said Soong.
Soong
and his delegation made the trip at the invitation of the CPC Central Committee
and its General Secretary Hu Jintao. Shanghai is their third leg after Xi'an and
Nanjing. They will also travel to Changsha and Beijing during the May 5-13 trip.