KMT leader impressed by Shanghai's vitality, urges building greater goodwill, mutual trust cross Strait

China

KMT leader impressed by Shanghai's vitality, urges building greater goodwill, mutual trust cross Strait

2026-04-09 20:30 Last Updated At：23:37

Impressed by the mainland's vitality and creativity during a tour in Shanghai, Cheng Li-wun, chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, on Thursday called for building greater goodwill and mutual trust across the Taiwan Strait.

Leading a KMT delegation, Cheng arrived in Shanghai from Nanjing by high-speed train on Wednesday afternoon. The group's first stop was the Shanghai headquarters of the food delivery giant Meituan, where they experienced drone-based delivery services that offered a glimpse into the mainland's rapidly developing smart economy.

On Thursday morning, Cheng and her delegation toured Yangshan Port and the Shanghai Aircraft Design and Research Institute under the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd -- manufacturer of domestically-developed aircraft including the C919 passenger jet.

Speaking to reporters, Cheng commended Shanghai's prosperity and beauty, while recalling the city's wartime history and subsequent transformation.

"Yesterday, I saw here, the Taiwan youth seeking their fortune in Shanghai. I experienced here the latest internet economy and the low-altitude economy. And I was greatly inspired when I was talking with Chen Jining, Party secretary of Shanghai about the future development of Taiwan businessmen, and how to integrate the upgrading and transformation of new economies with technology," she said.

She urged people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to remain committed to peaceful development.

"Standing by this vast sea, our minds have become broader. Here, with the flow of goods in and out, we also hold an international perspective. Here, I hope to be more confident and swear that both sides of the Strait will surely take on the responsibility of creating peace and maintaining stability throughout the region, so that all people can come here to pursue and realize their dreams," Cheng said.

During their stay in Shanghai, the delegation also traveled along the Yangpu Riverside to feel the pulse of urban development. They participated in a book salon, and interacted with young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. At the salon, some Taiwanese youths shared their experiences of developing their careers on the mainland.

"The Taiwan Affairs Office of Shanghai's Yangpu District organized a cross-Strait entrepreneurship training and exchange program, which I came to experience. After the program, I found that the entrepreneurial environment in Shanghai and the partners around got along very well with us," said a young man from Taiwan. "I came to Shanghai in 2024 to pursue my master's degree at Fudan University. Although it's only been less than two years, I've already had a deep impression of the city. I think opportunities have increased significantly, both for exchange among provinces and for international engagement," said a young woman from Taiwan.

The delegation departed Shanghai for Beijing on Thursday afternoon.

China's consumer goods industry posts steady growth in first 2 months

China's consumer goods industry got off to a good start in 2026, with main indicators registering steady growth in the first two months, according to the data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The value added of enterprises above the designated size -- whose annual main business income reaches 20 million yuan (about 2.93 million U.S. dollars) or more -- in this sector increased by 4.8 percent year on year in January and February, accounting for 29.2 percent of the total value added, 3.1 percentage points higher than that of last year. Among the 14 major industry categories, 10 achieved positive growth.

In the two months, these enterprises achieved a business revenue of approximately 5.1 trillion yuan, up 4.4 percent year on year, while the total retail sales of consumer goods exceeded 8.6 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.8 percent.

"The first two months were in the traditional peak consumption season, driving the growth of orders and helping to unleash production capacity in the consumer goods industry. Some emerging consumption patterns, such as experience consumption and trendy toy consumption, grew rapidly, and the supply market showed a diversified growth trend," said Dai Xiaoxia, deputy director of the Institute of Consumer Goods Industry Research of China Center for Information Industry Development.

In terms of foreign trade, exporters above the designated size delivered consumer goods worth around 592.54 billion yuan, up 2.2 percent year on year, with the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, the papermaking and paper products industry registering relatively rapid growth.

China will increase the supply of high-quality products in the consumer goods industry, steadily promoting the intelligent, green and integrated development of the sector.