Taichung City Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) announced on Tuesday that she will be conducting an official visit to the U.S. from July 22 to 31. This marks her first such visit in her five-year tenure as mayor. The visit aims to promote Taichung City and strengthen ties with Taichung's 16 sister cities and two friendship cities across the U.S.
A sister city agreement is a formal partnership between two communities in different countries, designed to promote business, trade, educational, and cultural exchanges. Establishing a friendship city relationship is the initial step towards developing a sister city relationship.
Mayor Lu plans to visit ten cities, focusing on meeting with officials from sister cities, Taiwanese business leaders, representatives from the technology sector, and Taiwanese expatriates. She says that Deputy Mayor Huang Guo-rong (黃國榮) planned the trip's itinerary. She adds that her delegation, which includes officials from the Education Bureau, Information Bureau, Digital Governance Bureau, and the Secretariat of the Taichung City Government, will follow the arrangements made by the inviting organization.