A letter of intent was concluded by the governments of Kaohsiung in Taiwan and Lviv in Ukraine to join the Unbroken Cities Network during a ceremony Dec. 30 in the southern port city.
Signed by Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai and Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy in the port city, it reflected support for peace and expanded networking among major cities around the world.
Chen welcomed Sadovyy and accompanying delegation and commended the people of Ukraine for their courage in the ongoing war against Russia. In addition to providing humanitarian assistance and resources, Chen said the city has expanded cultural exchanges with Ukraine, citing the screenings of documentaries highlighting life in Ukraine and the ongoing war during the 2022 Kaohsiung Film Festival, and the performance in Kaohsiung by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine in 2023.
In response, Sadovyy said he was impressed by Kaohsiung’s achievement in promoting smart city development. The commitment to freedom and democracy by the city will give Ukrainians courage as they continue to defend their own freedom and democracy. He also detailed several ongoing projects to reconstruct medical and rehabilitation facilities in Lviv, adding that such initiatives provide valuable references to other parts of the world facing the same challenges.
Inspired by Ukrainian defiance of Russia, Unbroken is dedicated to connecting cities worldwide to provide support and enhance rehabilitation in the East European country. Kaohsiung is the first Asian city to join the organization, which also comprises the U.K.’s Liverpool and Manchester, France’s Cannes, Norway’s Oslo and Poland’s Rzeszów, among others. (SFC-E)
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