Mayor Hou Yu-ih welcomes four UN Permanent Representatives from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies. The ambassadors praised New Taipei City for its accomplishments in innovation and smart city development. (From left: Information Management Center Director Chen Fu-tian, Tamkang University Assistant Professor Chen Yi-fan, Ambassador Menissa Rambally, Ambassador Mutryce Williams, Ambassador Ilana Seid; From right: Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission Chief Secretary Tseng Chao-hsiung, Deputy Secretary-general Ke Ching-chung, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York Director-general Lee Chih-chiang, and Ambassador Tapugao Falefou.)
On the afternoon of November 4, New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih welcomed a delegation of four Permanent Representatives to the United Nations from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies. The delegation, led by Ambassador Ilana Seid of Palau, included Ambassador Menissa Rambally of Saint Lucia, Ambassador Tapugao Falefou of Tuvalu, and Ambassador Mutryce Williams of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The delegation’s itinerary in Taiwan included visits to the Office of the President, the National Security Council, the Legislative Yuan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Digital Affairs. New Taipei City was the only local government on their schedule, demonstrating its pivotal role in Taiwan’s urban development. Deputy Secretary-general Ke Ching-chung and Tamkang University Assistant Professor Chen Yi-fan accompanied Mayor Hou during the visit, while the delegation was escorted by Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York Director-general Lee Chih-chiang.
Mayor Hou presents a 2025 World Masters Games mascot to Ambassador Ilana Seid of Palau.
Ambassador Ilana Seid gifts a Palauan jellyfish crystal ball to Mayor Hou Yu-ih.
In his speech, Mayor Hou noted the strong and longstanding interactions between New Taipei City and the embassies of Taiwan’s allies, highlighting past collaborations such as inviting ambassadors to the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, the involvement of Ambassador Donya Francis of Saint Kitts and Nevis in promoting the International Youth Volunteer Program, and the participation of Tuvaluan students in the New Taipei City Austronesian Cultural Festival. Mayor Hou also expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of these allies for the Republic of China in the United Nations and reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to safeguarding the shared values of freedom and democracy.
The delegation’s visit aimed to explore and learn from New Taipei City’s initiatives in building a smart city. The city’s Information Management Center organized a presentation on AI applications and a site visit to the city’s 5G Smart Poles infrastructure, accompanied by Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission Chief Secretary Tseng Chao-hsiung and Information Management Center Director Chen Fu-tian.
The delegation visits New Taipei City’s 5G Smart Poles infrastructure. (From left: Ambassador Tapugao Falefou, Ambassador Mutryce Williams, Ambassador Ilana Seid, Ambassador Menissa Rambally, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York Director-general Lee Chih-chiang, and Tamkang University Assistant Professor Chen Yi-fan.)
The ambassadors expressed heartfelt appreciation for Mayor Hou and the city’s warm reception, commending New Taipei City’s achievements in innovation and smart city development. They also extended invitations for Mayor Hou to visit their respective nations and discussed opportunities to enhance bilateral cooperation. Mayor Hou concluded the visit by promoting the upcoming 2025 World Masters Games and inviting citizens of Taiwan’s allied nations to participate in the event jointly hosted by Taipei and New Taipei City.
