2010-04-08 09:37

TAIPEI - Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said on Wednesday he encourages Shanghai companies to invest in Taiwan and expressed hope the island will become a "hot spot" for Shanghai enterprises.

"Since 1987 when the first Taiwan company entered Shanghai, more than 20 years have passed and the city has been an ideal place for Taiwan companies," Han said at a meeting here to boost investment in Taiwan by Shanghai companies.

The meeting was held as part of a four-day visit to Taiwan by a Shanghai municipal government delegation of about 260 people. Han is leading the delegation.

Shanghai has been among the most popular places in the mainland for Taiwan companies to invest. Statistics show that as of the end of 2009, 7,688 Taiwan-funded projects are based in Shanghai with investments of up to $22.8 billion.

Also on Wednesday, Han met with Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the island's Straits Exchange Foundation, and Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung.

Wu said he believes hundreds of thousands of Taiwan people will visit the Shanghai Expo and he hopes they will "share mainland people's pride."

Wu said that it is very important for the two cities to promote each other's Expo events as the "culmination of goodwill."

In addition to the Shanghai Expo which runs from May 1 to October 31, the 2010 International Flora Expo will be held in Taipei in November.

During the visit aiming to promote the Shanghai Expo, the delegation's members will have in-depth exchanges with their Taipei counterparts on economic, cultural, tourism, agricultural, and environment protection issues.

The delegation will visit the island's Taipei county, Taichung city and Taoyuan county.