UCLG Asia-Pacific Congress kicks off in Taipei

2014-09-05

The United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific Congress kicked off Sept. 3 in Taipei City, bringing together experts and mayors to exchange best practice in metropolitan development and governance.

“It is a great honor for Taipei to host the UCLG ASPAC regional congress again, 10 years after its founding in 2004,” Mayor Hau Lung-bin said in his welcome remarks. “This congress is not only a development milestone but also an opportunity for us to share our vision and insights into building better cities and local governments.”

According to Hau, this year’s event is attended by mayors of 13 and 16 cities from home and abroad, respectively. Guests of honor include President Ma Ying-jeou, Kiribati Vice President Teima Onorio and UCLG ASPAC President Syed Asghar Shah Gillani.

The four-day congress, of which the theme was An Adaptive City: Embedding Design in City Governance, opened with the Mayors’ Forum. It also features four panel discussions on adaptive city design in motion; construction of a recycling and zero-waste society; development and application of the smart city; and development trends in green transportation.

Other highlights include the signing of a joint declaration to enhance public services, improve quality of living, promote sustainable development and reduce impact on the environment. In addition, Taipei will ink a letter of intent on bilateral exchanges with Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. Together with a similar pact with Eindhoven in the Netherlands, the trio will form a Global Triangle of Intelligent Communities.

Prior to the opening of the congress, participants were invited on a tour of Taipei by U-Bike, the city’s public bike rental system, and to sample "xiaolongbao," or steamed dumplings, one of Taiwan’s signature dishes.

Another side event, the Taipei City—Design and Diplomacy exhibition, is being held at Taipei Expo Park to showcase the host city’s economic and environmental protection policymaking. Running through Sept. 8, the show will bring participants up to speed on the city’s preparation for hosting the World Design Capital Taipei 2016, Velo-city Global 2016 and 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=221323&CtNode=413)