00:00The Taipei City Government delegation led by Deputy Mayor Lin Yihua has departed for Shanghai to attend the annual Twin Cities Forum. Lin spoke to reporters before setting off.
00:11The Twin Cities Forum is a meeting held between the city governments of Taipei and Shanghai. Officials from both sides meet to discuss municipal issues and ways to work together.
00:35It's significant because it's one of the last remaining official communication channels at any level between Taiwan and China.
00:43Official communication at the national level was cut off in 2016. Lin said the forum's theme this year centers around technology.
00:51The two sides are also expected to make agreements on vocational training and water management.
00:57Taipei City Mayor Jiang Wan will arrive on Sunday to sign those agreements.
01:01He cut his trip short at the last minute because of a knife attack in Taipei that killed multiple people.
01:08The Taipei delegation has been instructed by Taiwan's government to stick to city-level issues,
01:14but many will be watching to see if any national-level issues are brought up.
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