Taiwan's capital is set to host a high-level Chinese delegation in the coming weeks when a Shanghai deputy mayor visits for a city forum. This trip will take place at a period of increased tensions along the Taiwan Strait.

Yin Wei, spokesperson for Taipei City government, told reporters that Shanghai Vice Mayor Hua Yuan will visit Taipei from 16-17 December to attend the Taipei - Shanghai City Forum. The forum was first held in 2010.

He added that "this year will be the 15th anniversary of this event, and 45 memorandums have been signed in the past. This is a good result for the city exchanges on both sides of the Taiwan Strait."

The official Chinese news agency Xinhua confirmed that the forum will be held in Taipei, Taiwan this year.

In a short report, it stated that "Cross Strait City Exchanges are conducive towards enhancing the affinity and wellbeing of compatriots from both sides of Taiwan Strait as well as promoting peaceful development of relationships."

Taipei mayor Chiang Wan An is from the main Kuomintang opposition party. The Kuomintang has traditionally supported close ties and dialogue across the Strait of Taiwan, but denies being pro Beijing.

Chiang is widely considered to be a future candidate for the presidency.

He was in Shanghai for the same forum last year.

China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has conducted military activities in the area, including sending fighter jets regularly into the airspace around it.

Taiwan's government is pushing to reopen talks with China, but Beijing has refused to engage President Lai Ching Te calling him a separatist.

Lai claims that only Taiwanese people can determine their future. (Reporting and additional reporting by Brenda Goh, Shanghai; editing by Kim Coghill.)

(source: Reuters)