Mayors and representatives from 38 harbor cities worldwide pledged Sept. 27 in Kaohsiung to pursue the sustainable development of land and sea resources and build more livable and resilient environments that can cope with the effects of climate change.
 
At the conclusion of the three-day 2018 Global Harbor Cities Forum held in the southern Taiwan metropolis, participants also vowed to work more closely together and promote innovative and inclusive economies, Kaohsiung City Government said.
 
Addressing officials from 17 countries and territories—including Australia, France, Indonesia, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S.—Kaohsiung Acting Mayor Hsu Li-ming said the event highlighted the unique role harbor cities play in global development. He added that Kaohsiung is committed to working with other like-minded harbor cities in exchanging best practices and seeking solutions for challenges like climate change.
 
Kaohsiung signed several agreements during the forum, including renewing its sister city deal and inking a memorandum of understanding covering the boat industry with Fort Lauderdale in the U.S.

The event also showed how efforts to strengthen ties with New Southbound Policy countries are paying dividends, KCG said. Several Southeast Asian cities—such as Medan in Indonesia and Quang Ngai in Vietnam—expressed interest in collaborating with Kaohsiung on technology exchanges in areas like agriculture and medicine.

Organized by KCG, the biennial GHCF featured business matchmaking sessions, exhibitions and panel discussions and attracted over 5,500 attendees this year.

A key plank of the government’s national development strategy, the NSP seeks to enhance Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand. (CPY-E)