Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-Cheng met with a visiting delegation led by Chiba Prefecture Governor Toshihito Kumagai at the city government this afternoon (November 13). Mayor Chang stated that Taoyuan City and Chiba Prefecture became sister cities in 2016, fostering close ties despite reduced exchanges over the past two years due to the pandemic. This visit marks Governor Kumagai’s first official overseas trip since taking office in 2021, and Mayor Chang expressed great honor in the choice to visit Taoyuan. He believes this visit will serve as a starting point for strengthened post-pandemic exchanges between Taoyuan and Chiba, reinvigorating existing educational, sports, and cultural exchanges. Mayor Chang also looks forward to expanding collaboration in various areas such as smart cities and tourism in the future.
Mayor Chang pointed out that Taiwan and Japan share many commonalities in terms of history and culture; moreover, the urban development of Taoyuan and Chiba have quite a few similarities. Both are gateways to their respective nations located near the capital, equipped with international airports, and exhibit diverse aspects from metropolitan to rural. These shared characteristics form an essential foundation for the ongoing expansion of exchanges between the two sides. With the easing of the pandemic, in September of this year (2023), the Department of Cultural Affairs led the Taoyuan Chinese Orchestra to visit Chiba Prefecture, and in December, the Department of Sports will invite athletes from Chiba Prefecture to participate in the Shimen Reservoir Maple Half Marathon in Taoyuan. Currently, the city government is actively promoting tourism and smart city initiatives, hoping that these will become focal points for future exchanges, with both sides working together to achieve common goals.
Chiba Prefecture Governor Toshihito Kumagai stated that since the alliance between Chiba Prefecture and Taoyuan City in 2016, the two regions have actively engaged in exchanges in sports, education, culture, and other areas. Throughout the challenging two years of the pandemic, they have exchanged masks, protective equipment, and even witnessed the Japanese government donating vaccines to the Taiwanese government. The critical nature of the pandemic has underscored the true essence of friendship, demonstrating the adage that true friendship is revealed in times of adversity.
Governor Kumagai pointed out that this year (2023) marks the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Chiba Prefecture. The Department of Cultural Affairs of Taoyuan City Government led the Chinese Orchestra to perform in Chiba, fostering international exchanges through music and receiving a warm welcome from the local residents. In terms of education, before the pandemic, many students from Chiba Prefecture visited Taoyuan for educational trips, and students from Taoyuan also traveled to Chiba. Governor Kumagai expressed the hope to continue promoting such educational exchanges in the future. Additionally, during this visit, he also aims to introduce Chiba Prefecture's agriculture, forestry, and fisheries to Taiwanese friends, inviting more people to savor the delicious cuisine of Chiba.