Secretariat, Taipei City Government

On the evening of February 6, the Taipei City Government held a welcome reception at Humble House Taipei to welcome the international VIPs who visited Taiwan and participated in the 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taipei. Nearly 200 domestic and foreign VIPs attended the reception, including mayors and mayoral delegations from Taipei City’s sister cities, a joint delegation from Japan, and representatives, including 11 ambassadors, from 50 embassies and missions in Taiwan, creating a warm atmosphere at the event.

The welcome reception marked the first time that Mayor Wan-An Chiang  publicly interacted with international guests and Taiwan-based international communities since taking office in December 2022. Mayor Chiang delivered an English speech, extending his welcome to the distinguished guests and thanking them for their support and personal attendance at the event.

In his speech, Mayor Chiang highlighted that the 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taipei marks the first time in 23 years that the Taiwan Lantern Festival is held in Taipei. This is the first large-scale international event to be held in Taipei City following the reopening of the city since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is the first urban lantern festival to be held in a densely populated metropolitan area.

Mayor Chiang used this opportunity to explain to the representatives his vision and international strategies for Taipei City. Mayor Chiang noted that his responsibility as mayor is to elevate the status of Taipei in the international community and to ensure Taipei City’s place among world-class cities. Accomplishing this goal will be the most crucial task during his term, and he hopes that the citizens of Taipei will be proud of our attainment of this goal.

Mayor Chiang further stated that as the capital city of Taiwan, Taipei City will lead Taiwan’s communication and exchanges with the rest of the world. We will proactively visit other parts of the world to promote Taipei City, invite international guests from major cities worldwide to visit Taipei City, and encourage the communication and exchange of ideas among cities. With the world gathering here, Taipei will become a focal city for Asia-oriented and global exchanges.

Mayor Chiang announced that starting with the Smart City Summit & Expo scheduled for March, Taipei will be hosting various international forums on various subjects such as sustainability, economy, and culture. He also highlighted that whether we are visiting other parts of the world as guests or hosting guests from other parts of the world, we must let the world see Taipei City and the Republic of China.

Finally, Mayor Chiang wished everyone a happy lunar new year, expressing his hope that everyone would be as energetic as rabbits in the upcoming year. The Taipei City Government also set up calligraphy and dough figurine booths to teach the guests about the beauty of Chinese culture and to showcase traditional Taiwanese folk customs.