TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung City on Tuesday hosted a delegation from Japan’s Hachioji City led by Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Hagiuda Koichi to discuss closer city ties, trade, and youth exchanges.
Kaohsiung City Government said that Hagiuda led the group to pay respects at a statue of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo before meeting city leaders. The delegation also met Kaohsiung City Council Speaker Kang Yu-cheng (康裕成) to discuss city exchanges and cooperation.
Kang said Kaohsiung and Hachioji have stayed close since becoming sister cities in 2006. She said agricultural exchange programs help Japanese students learn more about Kaohsiung and thanked Hagiuda for standing with Taiwan.
Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said Kaohsiung and Japan have built strong links in city governance, education, and industry. Chen thanked Hagiuda for long-time support for Taiwan and said the city will keep pitching in for regional peace.
The mayor also thanked Hachioji-Taiwan Friendship Exchange Association Chair Kurosu Ryuichi for donating 700,000 yen (NT$140,000) to the Kaohsiung Public Library. He said the group has also bought Kaohsiung pineapples for school lunches for three straight years.
Hagiuda said the visit shows how much Hachioji values its friendship with Kaohsiung City. With the sister-city partnership marking its 20th anniversary next year, both sides plan to step up exchanges in festivals and education.
AloJapan.com