Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), arrived in Shanghai Tuesday afternoon after a four-day visit in eastern China's Jiangsu Province, and met here with Shanghai mayor Han Zheng.

During the meeting, Han Zheng said the three agreements on opening regular flights, boosting financial and judiciary cooperation signed between Chiang and mainland's chief negotiator Chen Yunlin, and the consensus on allowing mainland companies to invest in Taiwan, were a major push to the development of cross-Straits ties.

According to Han, Shanghai enjoyed close exchanges with the global economies, and was actively taking measures to recover from the global financial crisis.

Though still facing many obstacles, the city's economic operation in the first quarter this year was better than previously expected, especially in the service industry, Han said.

There was much room for cooperation between Shanghai and Taiwan, Han said, adding that the Taiwan compatriots were welcome to the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

Chiang Pin-kung expressed his gratitude for the support of Shanghai municipal government toward Taiwan business people in the city.

He hoped that an air route between the Taipei Songshan Airport and the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport could be opened in 2010 to further promote exchange and cooperation between the two sides.

Chiang Pin-kung also met with representatives of Taiwan business people in Shanghai after his meeting with Han Zheng.

The SEF delegation led by Chiang will return to Taiwan on Wednesday afternoon.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2009)