Secretariat, Taipei City Government

On September 8, 2025, a delegation of legislative leaders from the State of Arizona, Taiwan’s sister state in the United States, visited the Taipei City Hall to meet with Mayor Wan-An Chiang. The purpose of this visit was to strengthen the friendly relationship between the two sister states and to exchange views on topics such as artificial intelligence and trade and economic ties. The meeting was conducted in a warm and cordial atmosphere.

Mayor Chiang began by extending a sincere welcome to the visiting delegation. He noted that the sister-state relationship between Taiwan and Arizona was established in 1980 and that Taipei City and Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, have maintained a sister-city relationship for 46 years. He remarked that this long-standing connection signifies a deep bond between the two cities. Mayor Chiang shared that he had met with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego on separate occasions both in 2024 and in 2025, and he expressed his enthusiasm toward recent cooperation, including the establishment of direct flights between the two cities and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s ongoing investment projects in Arizona. In addition, he conveyed his appreciation to the Arizona State Legislature for passing a pro-Taiwan resolution earlier this year, which voices support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. These efforts demonstrated the strong friendship between Arizona and Taiwan.

Mayor Chiang further noted that, in an effort to expand Taiwan’s procurement opportunities with the United States, the Taipei City Government would host a city business opportunity matchmaking forum on September 16, 2025. He expressed hope that members of the Arizona State Legislature would assist in inviting enterprises from Arizona to visit Taipei City for investment exploration, in an effort to deepen bilateral economic and trade exchanges. Mayor Chiang also shared specific examples of the city government’s application of artificial intelligence in municipal governance. Given that many of the visiting state legislators were visiting Taiwan for the first time, Mayor Chiang took the opportunity to introduce Taipei’s famous attractions and night market delicacies, once again extending a sincere welcome for the delegation members to personally experience the charm of Taipei.

Tony Rivero, Chairman of the State and International Affairs Committee of the Arizona House of Representatives and head of the delegation, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to Mayor Chiang and the Taipei City Government for taking the time to host the visit. He stated that the delegation’s trip to Taiwan aimed not only to enhance trade and economic cooperation but also to strengthen diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Having led delegations to various countries, Chairman Rivero emphasized that Taiwan held particular importance. He further stressed that both chambers of the Arizona State Legislature are strong supporters of Taiwan. In terms of tariffs, he indicated that the Arizona State Legislature is willing to convey to the Trump administration a strong recommendation to lower the currently provisional 20% tariff on goods from Taiwan. Chairman Rivero also highlighted the great value that Arizona places on its sister-state relationship with Taiwan and affirmed that the state would continue to support and maintain friendly relations. Several other state legislators in the delegation also praised Taiwan as a beautiful country with warm and hospitable people. The two parties engaged in extensive discussions on artificial intelligence, urban resilience, city governance, energy, and economic and trade relations. The dialog was marked by a dynamic and engaging atmosphere.

To conclude the visit, Mayor Chiang presented Chairman Rivero with a gold-embossed reproduction of the painting Prosperity on South Street, explaining that the bustling commercial scene depicted in it symbolizes Taipei City’s long-standing identity as a diverse, open, and opportunity-rich city. The gift conveyed Taipei City’s commitment to strengthening multifaceted exchanges, including economic, trade, and cultural cooperation, with both the State of Arizona and the City of Phoenix, as well as its enduring goodwill toward its sister-state and sister-city relationships.