Kumamoto Prefecture delegation visits Kaohsiung to express gratitude for donating more than 150 million yen to aid post-disaster reconstruction
Quick Look
- Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture Governor Kei Kimura and Prefectural Speaker Yuki Uchino led a delegation to visit the Kaohsiung City Government and thanked Kaohsiung in person for donating more than 150 million yen and providing livelihood supplies and hot food after the Kumamoto earthquake.
- Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai said that these actions reflect the long-term mutual trust between the local cities of Taiwan and Japan, and he looks forward to deepening cooperation in various fields such as the semiconductor industry, education and youth exchanges in the future.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Kumamoto County and Kaohsiung City are sister cities and have maintained close interactions in disaster mutual assistance, educational exchanges and industrial cooperation for many years. After the strong earthquake in Kumamoto in July this year, Kaohsiung citizens and schools immediately provided supplies, hot meals and collected donations.
Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture Governor Kimura Kei and Kumamoto Prefecture Speaker Yuki Uchino led a delegation to visit the Kaohsiung City Government on October 4 and thanked Kaohsiung in person for donating more than 150 million yen to assist Kumamoto disaster relief. Mayor Chen Chimai said that these actions are the most direct thoughts of Kaohsiung citizens and also demonstrate the power of mutual trust accumulated by local cities in Taiwan and Japan over the years.
Kimura thanked Kaohsiung for immediately lending a helping hand after the strong earthquake in Kumamoto in July this year, immediately sending people's supplies and hot food to the disaster area, and raising more than 150 million yen in donations to accompany Kumamoto through the difficulties. He described Kumamoto and Kaohsiung as having supported each other like family for many years. Next year will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the alliance, and he hopes to further deepen the city's diversified cooperation and continue to carry forward the friendship between Taiwan and Japan.
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Kumamoto Prefecture Speaker Yuki Uchino also thanked Kaohsiung for its immediate and warm support when Kumamoto suffered a disaster, and affirmed the achievements of the two sides in education and youth exchanges over the years. As Kaohsiung and Kumamoto are increasingly connected in the semiconductor industry, he looks forward to continuing to promote diverse exchanges in economy, education and culture between the two places in the future.
Chen Chimai said that the friendship between Kaohsiung and Kumamoto was accumulated when each other needed each other time and time again. When Taiwan suffered from disasters in the past, Japanese friends provided support. This time when Kumamoto was hit by the disaster, Kaohsiung also immediately extended a helping hand, from supplies, hot meals, citizens’ donations, to Kaohsiung students taking the initiative to write cards to cheer for their classmates from Kumamoto’s sister schools. These actions are the most direct thoughts of Kaohsiung citizens and demonstrate the power of long-term mutual trust between Taiwan and Japan.
Chen Chimai said that Kaohsiung and Kumamoto are also developing semiconductor and high-tech industries rapidly. In the face of global supply chain restructuring and talent competition, the two sides will continue to deepen cooperation in industry, scientific research and talent cultivation in the future to further strengthen the connection and resilience of Taiwan, the United States and Japan's high-tech supply chains.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Kumamoto Prefecture and Kaohsiung City will sign a semiconductor industry cooperation memorandum on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the alliance next year.
Likely · Within months
The Taiwan-Japan youth exchange program will increase student exchange visits and online dialogue projects in the next year.
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What are the specific mechanisms and timetable for Taiwan-Japan semiconductor industry cooperation in the future?
- To what fields and institutions will the youth exchange program be expanded?
- Will more sister cities participate in multilateral cooperation at the local level between Taiwan and Japan?
