Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman, Wu Poh-hsiung, will lead a delegation to attend the 4th Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum scheduled in Shanghai later this month.

KMT Honorary Chairman Lien Chan would also be present at the event to be held on Dec. 20-21, the party's deputy secretary-general Chang Jung-Kung said yesterday.

Chang said agreements made this year on food safety, direct shipping and flights, and mail services were welcomed by the Taiwan people and the international community.

Against this backdrop, the KMT and the mainland would hold their 4th Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum, which was expected to serve as a platform for coping with the global financial crisis.

The forum will also focus on expanding cooperation in the finance and service sectors between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, encouraging two-way investment and promoting a regular cross-Strait economic exchange mechanism, a mainland spokesman said yesterday in Beijing.