Secretariat, Taipei City Government

On the morning of March 19, Taipei Mayor Wan-An Chiang attended the 2025 Taipei Smart City Summit and Expo, where he delivered welcoming remarks and signed an agreement of friendly city county relations between Taipei City and Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. Mayor Chiang expressed his great pleasure in participating the 2025 Smart City Summit & Expo and extended a warm welcome to the international guests visiting Taipei from around the world.

Mayor Chiang noted that the friendly city county agreement between Taipei and Montgomery County, established during this summit, symbolizes the beginning of a deeper bilateral friendship and marks the launch of a new chapter in cooperation. Montgomery County, the most populous county in Maryland, is adjacent to the US capital, Washington, D.C., and is home to numerous federal government agencies. The county has highly developed biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and information technology sectors and considerable ethnic diversity. Mayor Chiang expressed hope for further exchange and collaboration between the two regions in the years ahead.

Mayor Chiang stated that the summit had brought together leaders from various sectors to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and public–private collaboration can enhance the smartness and livability of cities. He emphasized that Taipei has long been a leader in smart city development and that, in recent years, the city has leveraged big data, the Internet of Things, and AI technologies to optimize public services in domains such as traffic management, health care, and urban governance. As an example, he noted that Taipei uses AI to analyze real-time traffic flow, enabling dynamic traffic signal control to effectively reduce congestion and improve the efficiency of commuting. AI has also been employed to assist in medical diagnoses, shortening patient wait times and enhancing the utilization of health-care resources. Additionally, the city has used AI to enhance governmental responsiveness and administrative efficiency—a notable case being the 1999 Citizen Hotline, which successfully integrates AI to improve service delivery.

Mayor Chiang underscored that these achievements were made possible through strong public–private partnerships, in which government agencies provide data access and policy support and enterprises contribute technological innovation. He stressed that in the process to become a smart city, the focus should not solely be on technological advancement but must remain people-centered. The development of AI must adhere to ethical standards, prioritizing privacy protection, social inclusiveness, and high quality of life for all citizens. Mayor Chiang  noted that the summit marked only the beginning of a broader collaboration. Taipei City extends a sincere invitation to experts from all sectors to share their insights and visit the Taipei Pavilion at Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2, which showcases the city’s latest achievements in technological applications—demonstrating Taipei’s commitment and accomplishments in its journey toward a smart city.

In closing, Mayor Chiang expressed hope that Taipei will continue to deepen its cooperation and exchange with Montgomery County, Maryland, and with cities worldwide. He concluded with the phrase “AI in Taipei, because T-A-I-P-E-I!” and once again warmly welcomed all attendees and thanked them for participating in the event.