On July 3rd, Lutz Güllner, Head of the European Economic and Trade Office, met with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on the Taiwan-EU relations, sustainable development, and economic and trade cooperation. Kaohsiung was also invited to officially join the EU's International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) program, promising to deepen cooperation with European cities. Taiwan's agricultural exports have recently achieved much success as mangoes and guava received EU approval for import to all EU member states. Mayor Chen specially prepared gift boxes of guavas from Yanchao District, mangoes from Liouguei District, and a fresh fruit platter to share the delicious flavors of Kaohsiung's local agricultural products with Mr. Güllner. Mayor Chen stated that Kaohsiung is honored to participate in the IURC program and will actively share its experience in semiconductor development, smart technology, and net-zero transition, while establishing closer partnerships with European partner cities.
Mayor Chen Chi-mai warmly welcomed Mr. Güllner and presented him with a custom-made Taiwanese vest. Mr. Güllner immediately changed into the vest during the visit, creating a lively atmosphere. Mayor Chen noted that while this was the first official visit between the two, they had met many times during events held in Kaohsiung since Mr. Güllner took office last year. Mr. Güllner recently participated in the Kaohsiung International Dragon Boat Festival in June. Mayor Chen also thanked the European Union for inviting Kaohsiung to participate in the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC). According to Mayor Chen, Taiwan and Europe share core values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights. Kaohsiung has actively promoted urban transformation in recent years. Faced with the challenges of rapid geopolitical change and the restructuring of global supply chains, strengthening cross-border cooperation mechanisms and enhancing supply chain resilience have become more critical.
Mr. Güllner expressed his gratitude for the city government's warm hospitality, saying Kaohsiung has always been a vibrant and culturally significant port city. He first visited Kaohsiung in 2011 and has visited six times since taking office last year. He was impressed by Kaohsiung's urban transformation and economic development. Mr. Güllner noted that the EU has long been Taiwan's largest source of foreign investment. During his visit to Kaohsiung, he will also visit European companies that have invested in the city. The EU also values people-to-people exchanges and promotes understanding, hoping to foster further and more diverse cooperation between Europe and Kaohsiung.
Taiwanese mangoes and guavas recently received official EU import approval. Mayor Chen prepared Jinghuang mangoes from Liouguei District and guavas from Yanchao District for a tasting with Mr. Güllner, recommending Kaohsiung's local tropical fruit flavors. Mayor Chen stated that Kaohsiung's abundant sunshine produces high-quality fruits, making them highly competitive for export.
Ms. Chang Yen-ching, Director-General of the Department of Administrative and International Affairs of Kaohsiung City Government, noted that Kaohsiung has actively promoted diverse cooperation with Europe in recent years, such as facilitating the Spanish Chamber of Commerce to host the Spanish National Day celebration in Kaohsiung for the first time. For two consecutive years, the city has partnered with the French Office in Taipei and Association des français de Taiwan to host the "Kaohsiung French Festival," attracting over 100,000 attendees and becoming a major cultural event in Taiwan. Kaohsiung has also established formal partnerships with several European cities, signing a letter of intent with Gdynia, Poland, last year and a memorandum of understanding with Poznań, Poland, this year. Kaohsiung is also deepening its ties with Bratislava, Slovakia. By participating in the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC), Kaohsiung hopes to expand economic and cultural cooperation opportunities between Kaohsiung and Europe through city partnerships.