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) in Shanghai yesterday.

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.