TAIPEI, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- 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 here Tuesday.

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 Tuesday in Beijing.

4th cross-Strait economic, cultural forum to be held in Shanghai

BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The 4th Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum would be held in Shanghai later this month, a Chinese mainland spokesman announced here Tuesday.

The forum was scheduled for Dec. 20-21, after consultations with the Kuomintang (KMT) side, said the spokesman with the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. Full story

Source: Xinhua