Secretariat, Taipei City Government

On February 6, Mayor Wan-An Chiang met with international guests participating in the 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taipei at the Taipei City Hall. Present at the event was a delegation led by the Mayor of Majuro, a sister city of Taipei and the capital of the Marshall Islands, which is a diplomatic ally of Taiwan. The event was also attended by a joint delegation comprising the mayors or deputy mayors from the Japanese cities that have good relationship with Taipei, namely Hirosaki City of Aomori Prefecture, Kasama City, Matsuyama City, Hamamatsu City, Ehime Prefecture, and Okinawa Prefecture. They also actively participated in setting up lanterns and showed their support for Taipei City through practical actions.

Mayor Ladie N. Jack of Majuro led a group of seven people, who included his wife and two council members, to pay a special visit to Mayor Chiang at Taipei City Hall. Mayor Jack first congratulated Mayor Chiang on winning the Taipei City mayoral election and indicated that he could perceive the progress and prosperity of Taipei City under Mayor Chiang’s leadership when he participated in the parade and lighting ceremony of the 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taipei, which was held on February 5.

Mayor Jack also indicated that he was looking forward to participating in other events during this visit, including visits to the Taipei Urban Intelligence Center, Taipei Emergency Operation Center, Taipei City Traffic Information Center, and Taipei Metro Operations Control Center, and he was hopeful that his delegation would engage in in-depth learning and gain a fruitful experience.

Mayor Chiang expressed during the meeting that Taipei City and Majuro City had been sister cities for 23 years. Mayor Jack demonstrated his support and highlighted the precious friendship between the two cities for the Taipei City Government by revisiting Taipei after six years. Mayor Chiang recognized Majuro City’s efforts to install solar street lights as a means of achieving energy conservation and carbon reduction and responding to global climate change. Taipei City also attaches great importance to environmental issues. In the future, the two cities are expected to broaden their cooperation in multiple areas on the basis of their existing friendship.

Mayor Chiang then met with a delegation comprising mayors and deputy mayors from five prefectures and cities in Japan, and he thanked them for their participation in the 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taipei. Their participation contributed to the success of the event and provided the people of Taipei City with a new and unique experience. Mayor Chiang also stated that Taiwan and Japan are geographically close to each other, have similar historical backgrounds and cultural traditions, and close bilateral relations.

Before the pandemic, approximately 7.1 million tourists were traveling between the two countries, and Japan was the first-choice destination for Taiwanese people traveling abroad. After the easing of border restrictions between Taiwan and Japan, more tourists from Japan are expected to visit Taiwan, where they will be warmly welcomed to experience its food and scenery.

Finally, Mayor Chiang encouraged all the delegations to experience the vibrancy and beauty of the 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taipei and to enjoy the friendliness and hospitality of the people of Taipei City. Mayor Chiang interacted warmly with the visiting international guests, discussing and exchanging ideas, wishing each other a happy lunar new year, and encouraging joint efforts to collaborate for a better future for everyone.