Secretariat, Taipei City Government

On May 7, Taipei City Mayor Wan-An Chiang met with a delegation including Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Chairman Shuzo Sumi and Chief Representative Kazuyuki Katayama. The two parties engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital governance, semiconductor supply chains, and energy security. Mayor Chiang remarked that Taiwan–Japan relations are entering a phase centered on technological cooperation and that both parties should establish institutionalized channels to translate international experience into practical knowledge for municipal governance.

During the meeting, Mayor Chiang fondly recalled that Chairman Sumi once shared that his father-in-law was originally from Keelung. This deep connection has made exchanges between Japan and Taiwan feel warmer and more familial. Mayor Chiang also mentioned that Deputy Mayor Wen-Te Chang had recently led a Taipei City delegation to attend Sushi Tech Tokyo, an event hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. During the visit, Taipei and Tokyo formally signed a memorandum of understanding and exchange in the digital field, establishing a regular reciprocal visit mechanism for AI applications and data governance and practically advancing technology diplomacy.

Chairman Sumi recalled that during their previous meeting, he and Mayor Chiang had discussed the challenge of Japan’s declining birthrate. Chairman Sumi commended Taipei’s remarkable achievement of positive birthrate growth under Mayor Chiang’s leadership and praised the city government’s foresight in establishing the Department for Youth to cultivate future talent. Chairman Sumi proposed that Tokyo and Taipei develop industrial partnerships in the fields of AI and supply chains. He stated that because of such global instability as the Russia–Ukraine war, conflicts in the Middle East, and the substantial electricity demands associated with high-tech development, establishing a stable energy supply is vital to urban competitiveness. He also shared insights from his discussion with Legislative Yuan President Kuo-Yu Han regarding the prospects of the drone industry.

In closing, Mayor Chiang observed that in the current increasingly volatile international environment, Taiwan and Japan should strengthen their partnership across economics, technology, and the joint maintenance of regional security. He urged that Taipei and Japanese cities continue learning from each other’s governance strengths and translating their respective experiences in AI technology, energy transition, and responses to social challenges into tangible outcomes that promote urban development. Such cooperation can enhance the quality of life of citizens and strengthen Taipei’s substantive influence within the global city network.