The Kaohsiung City Government and Guam officially established a sister city relationship on March 5. Guam Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero led a delegation to Kaohsiung and signed the sister city agreement with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, marking a significant milestone in advancing city-level diplomacy between Taiwan and the United States. Witnesses to the signing included Branch Chief Neil Gibson of the American Institute in Taiwan Kaohsiung Branch Office, Director-General Liu Chia-ping of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam, and Brenda Tang, General Manager of Taiwan Sales at United Airlines.
Mayor Chen noted that Kaohsiung and Guam are highly complementary in areas such as tourism, marine sustainability, and education. The sister city agreement not only symbolizes a deepening of bilateral ties but also lays a solid foundation for future collaboration. Both sides will pursue diversified cooperation in tourism, culture, education, agriculture and fisheries, and urban governance.
Mayor Chen first extended a warm welcome to Governor Leon Guerrero on her second visit to Kaohsiung, and the two sides held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral cooperation. Both parties expressed strong support for expanding tourism cooperation and explored collaboration in culture, smart healthcare, and education. They also expressed high expectations for launching a broad range of substantive collaborative initiatives following the signing. Mayor Chen further remarked that both Kaohsiung and Guam are vibrant ocean cities characterized by sunshine, warmth, abundant natural resources, and rich cultural diversity. Guam is also a popular travel destination for Taiwanese visitors, underscoring the strong potential for growth in bilateral tourism markets.
Governor Leon Guerrero previously led a delegation to Kaohsiung in 2025. On this visit, she once again headed a delegation that included representatives from the Guam Visitors Bureau and the Guam Economic Development Authority to complete the formal signing of the sister city agreement, demonstrating both sides’ commitment to building a long-term partnership. Notably, the Guam Visitors Bureau has enthusiastically participated for two consecutive years in Kaohsiung’s Sunshine Island Vibe Fest, promoting Guam’s unique culture and tourism resources to strong public acclaim. This year, Governor Leon Guerrero personally led a delegation to attend the festival’s opening ceremony, further strengthening collaboration in island culture and tourism promotion.
In her remarks, Governor Leon Guerrero expressed her gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the Kaohsiung City Government. She emphasized that Guam and Taiwan share Austronesian cultural roots while also embracing diverse communities and visitors from around the world. As tourism is Guam’s most important asset, she expressed hope for increasing reciprocal visits and exchanges between the two places. She also noted that Kaohsiung possesses advanced expertise in semiconductors and aquaculture, and expressed expectations for closer collaboration and expanded technological cooperation in areas such as tourism, agriculture and fisheries, healthcare, and smart governance. During the visit, Governor Leon Guerrero also prepared traditional Guamanian snacks to share with Mayor Chen. Paired with Kaohsiung’s Liouguei mountain tea, known for its refined and lingering flavor, the exchange highlighted a harmonious pairing between the two ocean cities.
Chang Yen-ching, Director-General of the Department of Administrative and International Affairs, stated that Kaohsiung continues to actively promote diverse Taiwan–U.S. cooperation in areas including smart cities, industrial transformation, educational partnerships, and cultural engagement. She also expressed special thanks to Felix Yen, Director of the Guam Taiwan Office, and Jessica Chang, Managing Director of the Guam Visitors Bureau Taiwan Representative, for their efforts in facilitating the sister city relationship. Looking ahead, Kaohsiung will continue to leverage major international city events to promote substantive exchanges, while integrating resources across industry, tourism, and education to further strengthen partnerships with cities across the United States.