The inaugural Global Harbor Cities Forum got underway Sept. 6 in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City, attracting nearly 200 speakers and representatives from 49 cities in 25 countries and territories to discuss ways of promoting sustainable economic growth in port metropolises and fostering international tie-ups.
Organized by Kaohsiung City Government, the event is themed “From Past to the Future—Transformation and Cooperation.” It features keynote speeches, panel discussions and roundtable meetings on four main topics: cooperation of harbor cities and urban planning, industrial transformation, marine tourism and sustainable development.
“Harbor city governance is a unique challenge involving environmental protection, marine resources and urban planning, among others,” Premier Lin Chuan said during his opening address for the three-day event at Kaohsiung Exhibition Center. “It is hoped that this forum can serve as a platform for port city exchanges, as well as for Taiwan to share its experiences with participants from around the world going forward.”
According to Lin, around one-third of the forum’s city representatives are from Southeast Asia. “Kaohsiung should make the best use of its competitive advantages to collaborate with Southeast Asian nations to push forward prosperity and progress in the region, while strengthening Taiwan’s trade and economic ties with neighboring countries,” he said.
This approach is in line with President Tsai Ing-wen’s New Southbound Policy, which aims to create fresh economic impetus, deepen trade and cultural links with Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, South Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Mayor Chen Chu and her Panamanian counterpart Jose Blandon, who is in Taiwan for the Global Harbor Cities Forum, inked Sept. 5 a sister city agreement in an effort to facilitate mutual cooperation and exchanges spanning culture, economy and trade. The pact makes the capital of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Central American diplomatic ally the 29th sister city of Kaohsiung.
“Panama is an important ally of Taiwan in Latin America,” Chen said during the signing ceremony. “President Tsai Ing-wen’s attendance at the opening of the expanded Panama Canal illustrates the close bonds of friendship between the countries.
“The two cities can help each other in supporting industrial transformation and increasing exchanges and cooperation in areas ranging from culture and creative, finance and the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions industries, to port city development.”
In response, Blandon said he was impressed by the participation of Taiwan women in politics, describing Tsai, Chen and Kaohsiung City Council Speaker Kang Yu-cheng as outstanding role models. He also praised ongoing efforts to promote and strengthen freedom and democracy in Taiwan.
The hosting of the forum underscores Kaohsiung’s rising reputation as a world-class MICE destination, a development further illustrated by its staging of a number of international events such as the World Games in 2009, Asia Pacific Cities Summit in 2013 and International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences (AIESEC) International Congress in 2014. In addition, the opening of Kaohsiung Exhibition Center in 2014 boosted the city’s capabilities to host MICE activities. Last year, the number of major MICE events organized in Kaohsiung reached 1,573, accounting for 17.5 percent of the total nationwide. (KH-E)
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