Mayor Hou Yu-ih delivering a speech at the welcome dinner, highlighting famous tourist spots like Jiufen, Tamsui, and Yehliu, located in New Taipei City.

On August 1, New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih received the delegation from the Federation of Chinese Associations in Japan, led by its President, Luo Hung-chien. New Taipei City maintains close interactions with Japan, and Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan is currently in Tokyo and Kyoto for business engagements, drawing on Japan's expertise in smart parks to strengthen the business connections between the two nations. Deputy Mayor Chen Chwen-jing will also visit Oi Town in Fukui Prefecture in mid-September to hold a tourism exchange meeting, aiming to deepen bilateral tourism and cultural exchanges.
 
Yesterday, Mayor Hou, accompanied by Deputy Mayor Chen Chwen-jing and Director-general of the Secretariat Yao Ching-yu, welcomed the delegation. In his speech, Mayor Hou expressed his pleasure at hosting the Federation of Chinese Associations in Japan for the first time post-COVID-19 pandemic. With a population of 4.04 million, New Taipei City is Taiwan’s most populous city, home to popular destinations like Jiufen, Tamsui, and Yehliu. Mayor Hou noted that New Taipei City has sister and friendship city agreements with seven Japanese cities, including Tagawa in Fukuoka Prefecture, Yasugi in Shimane Prefecture, Oi in Fukui Prefecture, and Kamiamakusa in Kumamoto Prefecture, four of which were established during his tenure. He hopes to promote New Taipei to the global community through exchanges with various sectors, showcasing its beautiful landscapes, diverse cultures, and resilience, and through mutual learning, create cities where citizens can thrive.
 

Mayor Hou Yu-ih presents a ceramic plate featuring a Taiwanese barbet to President Luo Hung-chien, symbolizing auspicious and friendly relations. New Taipei City has established sister and friendship city relationships with seven Japanese cities, four of which were signed during Mayor Hou's tenure.

President Luo Hung-chien, in his speech, thanked Mayor Hou and the city officials for their warm reception and expressed his delight at visiting New Taipei City. He highlighted the deep friendship between Taiwan and Japan, noting that Taiwanese people enjoy traveling to Japan and vice versa. This visit strengthens the Federation’s ties with New Taipei City, and the overseas Chinese community will continue to strive to maintain the cooperative relationship between Taiwan and Japan. He also wished for New Taipei City's continued prosperity under Mayor Hou's leadership.


The event marks the Federation of Chinese Associations in Japan's first visit to New Taipei City after the COVID-19 pandemic, with Mayor Hou Yu-ih enjoying lively discussions with the delegation members.


Mayor Hou Yu-ih discusses the upcoming visit of Deputy Mayor Chen Chwen-jing to Oi Town in Fukui Prefecture in mid-September.


Mayor Hou Yu-ih takes a group photo with members of the Federation of Chinese Associations in Japan from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Ryukyu, while Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan is concurrently engaging in business promotion in Tokyo and Kyoto.