Twin-City Forum Resumes

* First started in 2010, the Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum returns August 30-31, 2023. It was staged as a platform where the two cities could explore ways to broaden areas of collaboration and deepen bilateral relationship. Since the Forum is confined to Taipei and Shanghai, it was designed to supplement cross-Strait relations, in good or bad times.

* While substantive results were limited in the last 13 years, the mechanism has become an indicator of the state of cross-Strait relations, as well as a model of local-level exchanges for both sides. With the election of KMT's Wayne Chiang, who is also Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's great grand son, as Taipei mayor last November, it is no surprise to see the resumption of the Twin-City Forum this week.

* Chiang's visit to Shanghai will be a time for the CPC to get a closer look and understand the 4th-generation Chiang a little better. Though he's been on the job for less than a year, the younger Chiang has been cautious and low-key, while staying away from controversial issues. However, since two former Taipei mayors--Chen Shui-bian and Ma Ying-jeou--have gone on to become ROC president, many expect Chiang to stay politically relevant by NOT committing any major policy missteps. If he does play his cards right, a presidential run in 2032, when Chiang is just 54, should not be ruled out.