August 27, New Taipei, 2023 - The inaugural meeting of the "Northern Taiwan Collaborative Exchange Platform," at the Deputy Mayor level, convened today at the New Taipei City Government. The event was co-hosted by Deputy Mayors Lin Yihua of Taipei, Liu Heran of New Taipei City, Chiu Peilin(邱珮琳) of Keelung City, and Su Junbin of Taoyuan City. In addition to confirming the platform's strategic plans, mission scope, and future implementation strategies, the meeting also meticulously reviewed the progress of ongoing collaborative initiatives and addressed short, medium, and long-term cooperative projects. The discussions were centered on upcoming significant development topics and included fruitful exchanges of ideas.
This gathering builds on the momentum generated by the "Northern Taiwan Collaborative Exchange Platform" Mayor-level meeting held on February 11, which initially identified three focal points of cooperation: transportation, social engagement, and culture. The platform has since integrated existing collaborative projects from Northern Taiwan, Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, and Taoyuan, and has successfully advanced 21 out of a total of 88 joint initiatives. Efforts are ongoing for the remaining 67 projects.
The Taipei City Government, in alignment with the foundation laid by the "Taipei-New Taipei Collaborative Exchange Platform," has extended its collaboration to include Keelung and Taoyuan. This expansion has led to the exploration of various new cooperative opportunities, including initiatives such as the World Youth Invention Exhibition, Carbon-Neutral Sustainable Architecture, E-cigarette Prevention, Inter-City Social Security Network Cooperation, Shared Public Childcare Facilities, Compassionate Dining, and the establishment of an Artist Community. Deputy Mayor Lin also expressed the city's eagerness to share Taipei's resources and experiences, fostering mutual benefit and progress. Additionally, the intention to learn from the practices of New Taipei, Keelung, and Taoyuan was highlighted, seeking to discover valuable insights through urban exchanges and contribute to the betterment of the broader Northern Taiwan community.
The next Deputy Mayor-level meeting, hosted by the Taipei City Government, will further deepen cooperation among the cities. In addition to advancing joint initiatives through specialized working groups, the discussion will delve into topics aligned with future urban development trends, aiming to identify potential collaborative prospects among the four cities. Anticipating the months ahead, collaborative projects scheduled for September and October include the completion of the Zhongzheng Bridge bicycle lane in New Taipei, the commencement of the Nangang to Xizhi bicycle route, a Street Art Festival, Children's Art Festival, Korean Tourism Exhibition, and the integration of the Northern Taiwan museum family network. The latter half of the year will witness ongoing collaboration across eight major areas: transportation, disaster prevention, education, industry and livelihood, public health, and social welfare. The Taipei City Government remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing citizen needs, fostering shared prosperity, and creating a more convenient and prosperous future for all.