Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, leads a KMT delegation in a visit to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in Shanghai, east China, April 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT), continued her mainland visit in Shanghai on Thursday, leading a KMT delegation on a tour offering a firsthand look at the mainland's smart economy and urban development — from visiting Yangshan Port to boarding a display model of the C919 aircraft. 

This was followed by their first stop after arriving in Shanghai from Nanjing by high-speed train on Wednesday afternoon, where they visited Meituan's Shanghai headquarters and experienced drone-based delivery services that offered them 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, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Speaking to reporters, Cheng commended Shanghai's prosperity and beauty, while recalling the city's wartime history and transformation. "Peace is the most powerful force," she said. "Given enough time, peace can make anything possible." She urged people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to remain committed to peaceful development, according to Xinhua. 

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Cheng shared her thoughts on her visit to Shanghai, saying that "Before I left, my family and friends in Taiwan would always say, jokingly, that they were waiting for me to bring gifts back. I sincerely hopes that, if possible, the gift I bring to all my family and friends in Taiwan is peace. Because peace makes everything possible. It allows everything everyone hopes for to actually happen."

The delegation departed Shanghai for Beijing on Thursday afternoon, according to Xinhua. 

Cheng wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday that while on a flight from Shanghai to Beijing with Xiamen Airlines, she met five flight attendants from Taiwan region and was delighted to take a group photo with them. The attendants came from Banqiao, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hualien, and Hsinchu.

Because Xiamen Airlines had previously recruited flight attendants from the island, Cheng said she felt fortunate to have met them in the air. 

According to an itinerary released by Taiwan regional media outlet the United Daily News, the delegation is scheduled to meet with enterprises from both the mainland and Taiwan region on April 11 in Beijing before returning to Taiwan region on Sunday.

Taiwan regional media closely followed the third day of Cheng's mainland visit, with many outlets reporting on her itinerary. For example, "China Times" on Thursday gave extensive coverage to Cheng's trip to Yangshan Port, noting that according to the 2025 global port rankings released by multiple shipping institutions, mainland ports accounted for six of the world's top 10 ports, with the Port of Shanghai ranking first.

Lin Wenhao, a Taiwan youth participating in rural revitalization projects in Putian, Fujian Province, and in the operation of a Taiwan-funded cultural tourism company in Xiamen, told the Global Times that he and some entrepreneurs see such cross-Straits interactions as helping bring greater certainty to the future, giving Taiwan businesspeople and young people more confidence to make medium- and long-term plans for development.

Lin also said he hopes for a further recovery in personnel exchanges, including more convenient flight routes and services. 

He added that he is especially concerned about opportunities for Taiwan youth to intern, work and start businesses on the mainland. "These are real, practical scenarios that can truly enhance mutual understanding," he said.