The 2020 Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum kicked off on July 22. It was held virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and focused on urban disease prevention and economic cooperation.


Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je and Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng, who was promoted from acting mayor just a day earlier, exchange greetings virtually. The 2020 Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum kicked off on July 22 with Taipei serving as the host. The forum was held virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was also shortened from three days to one day. The two cities did not sign any memorandums on cooperation, but this forum is still remarkable for being the first and only government-level cross-strait exchange in recent memory.

Although the epidemic situation brought about changes, Taipei and Shanghai's common understanding is that exchanges cannot be interrupted. That's why this year's Twin City Forum is being held via videoconference for the first time.

This year's forum focused on the issues of urban disease prevention and economic cooperation. Ko and Gong both spoke about the disease prevention measures and responses taken by their respective cities. With regards to cross-strait relations, both mayors reiterated that the two sides of the strait are one family.

I believe to this day that having cross-strait exchanges is better than having nothing. Cooperation is better than confrontation. A close-knit family is better than a hostile family. I reiterate my five mutual principles, the most important of which is mutual understanding. Although the two sides are at an impasse and each side perseveres with its own view, we should use communication and dialogue to learn from each other and use each other's strengths to make up for our own weak points.

The epidemic situation prevented us from meeting face to face, but it could not prevent the connection between the hearts of cross-strait compatriots. Let's uphold the principle that the two sides of the strait are one family and use this forum as an opportunity to achieve greater understanding.

The main forum ended at 11 a.m., and was followed by four sub-forums on health and medical care; industrial and economic exchanges; regional governance and cooperation; and smart communications. The health and medical care sub-forum discussed issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as differences in medical treatment systems and responses and quarantine policies.



隔著大螢幕，台北市長柯文哲與新上任的上海市長龔正，互相揮手打招呼。2020台北上海雙城論壇，22號登場，今年輪到台北主辦，但受到疫情影響，首度採用視訊連線方式進行，規模從以往的三天精簡成一天，雙方也沒有簽署合作備忘錄。但兩市堅持舉辦，成為近期兩岸首次且唯一的官方交流。

台北市長 柯文哲表示：「雖然疫情變化無常，但是台北與上海的共識，就是交流不宜中斷。所以今年雙城論壇，首次採取視訊的方式辦理。」

今年論壇主題聚焦城市防疫和經濟合作，柯文哲與龔正分別提到台北、上海在疫情下的措施與因應，而談到兩岸關係，兩人也都再次重申兩岸一家親。

台北市長 柯文哲表示：「到今天，我還是認為，兩岸交流比斷流好、合作比對抗好，一家親比一家仇好。我一向主張五個互相的原則，其中互相諒解最重要。雖然兩岸之間仍有僵局，也各有堅持，但應透過溝通與對話，互相學習、取長補短。」

上海市長 龔正表示：「疫情可以阻礙我們面對面，但不能阻礙我們兩岸同胞心連心，讓我們秉持兩岸一家親，以此次論壇為契機，凝聚更多的共識。」

主論壇在上午11點結束，隨即進行4個分論壇，分別為衛生醫藥、產業經濟交流、區域治理與合作以及智慧交通。其中，衛生醫療論壇預計將討論肺炎疫情相關議題，例如雙方醫療體系應對差異、集中隔離檢疫政策等。