
Deputy Mayor Linghu met and chatted with the Mayor Phil Goff of Auckland, the sister city of Taichung. Deputy Mayor was the Director of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Auckland, so he and Mayor Goff have become close friends. As this year coincides with the 20th anniversary of 921 Earthquake, Deputy Linghu invited rescuers from the Auckland Fire Service who participated in the disaster rescue operation at the time to visit Taichung. His invitation was well-received by Mayor Goff, who also invited Taichung delegates to attend the New Zealand Taiwan Day to be held in Auckland in October this year in order to cement bilateral relations.
Deputy Mayor Linghu also met with representatives from various Asia-Pacific cities including the Head of Local Property Department in Uvs Province Batbaatar Erdenesuren, CEO of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Brendan Moon, Busan Ambassador for International Relations in South Korea Kyoung-ha Woo, and Mayor of Ichikawa City Hirotami Murakoshi to explore various collaboration opportunities. Deputy Mayor Linghu also extended his invitation to them to visit Taichung.
According to Busan Ambassador Woo, Busan will be hosting the 9th TPO (Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia Pacific Cities) General Assembly in September this year, since Taichung is also one of the member cities, he has invited Taichung to attend the general assembly in order to foster tourism developments in the Asia Pacific region.
Additionally, Deputy Mayor Linghu also met with local Taiwanese business leaders in Brisbane and attended the banquet with officials from Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung who were partaking in the summit, where he introduced Taichung Shopping Festival, abundant tourism cultural resources of Taichung, and the diverse, innovative agricultural products of the city in hopes of expanding new domestic and overseas markets for Taichung.