Secretariat, Taipei City Government

On the afternoon of December 9, Taipei Mayor Wan-An Chiang met with Mr. Yip Wei Kiat, the Outgoing Singapore Trade Representative, to express his sincere appreciation and high praise for the Representative’s outstanding contributions over the past six years in advancing exchanges between Taipei and Singapore. Mayor Chiang emphasized that the two cities have established a close and pragmatic partnership in areas such as urban governance, transportation, and talent cultivation, setting an exemplary model for regional cooperation among Asian cities. 

Mayor Chiang recalled that his first official overseas visit after taking office was to Singapore, where he received full support and assistance from Representative Yip and the Singapore Trade Office in Taipei. During the visit, he studied key urban districts including Orchard Road and the Silver Zone (an elder-friendly safety zone). The experience provided valuable inspiration and references for Taipei’s subsequent efforts in commercial district revitalization and traffic safety improvements.

Mayor Chiang further noted the frequent and close interactions between Taipei and Singapore, particularly in urban governance, transportation, and talent development. In addition to being invited annually by Singapore’s Ministry of National Development to attend the World Cities Summit (WCS), the two parties have also achieved fruitful outcomes in various exchanges, such as metro system operations and maintenance, civil servant training, youth exchange programs, and bilingual education. Furthermore, the mayor expressed special interest in Singapore’s current progress in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).

Representative Yip explained that the Singaporean government currently identifies AI, sustainability, and energy as national development priorities and is actively managing progress on those fronts through various policies. He also pointed out that, in addition to pursuing technological advancement, the Singaporean government is placing considerable focus on addressing and mitigating the negative impact brought about by AI, such as scams and concerns over personal data security. Representative Yip emphasized that Taipei has long been one of Singapore’s most important partners in the Asia region, and he expressed hope that the two cities will continue to deepen their cooperation and mutual learning in areas such as sustainable urban development, digital transformation, and international talent cultivation.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor Chiang presented Representative Yip with a Taipei 101 music box themed after the city, hoping that it would serve as a keepsake of the Representative’s fond memories in Taipei. Mayor Chiang also praised Representative Yip as a true “brother and friend” of Taipei and offered his heartfelt best wishes for continued success in his future endeavors.