To deepen international city-to-city exchange, Taichung City welcomed Dr. Kjell Lindgren—the first Taiwan-born NASA astronaut—on April 23, at the invitation of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Accompanied by his wife, Dr. Lindgren’s visit was hailed by Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, who noted that as Dr. Lindgren spent part of his childhood in Taichung, he is "family" to the city. This visit not only reflects the long-standing cultural ties between Taiwan and the United States but also underscores Taichung’s ongoing global engagement and its commitment to raising Taiwan’s international profile.

Mayor Lu remarked that Dr. Lindgren’s return to Taichung rekindled personal memories—from enjoying the city’s iconic "apple bread" to visiting the former U.S. military club—while reconnecting the cultural bonds between Taichung and the United States. She added that Taichung is immensely proud of Dr. Lindgren’s contributions to the Artemis missions and his numerous professional milestones.

Mayor Lu further noted that the Meicun Integrated Service Park, formerly a residential and recreational hub for U.S. military personnel, likely played a role in Dr. Lindgren’s childhood. She extended a special invitation for him to return for the park’s official opening. The site is being transformed into a public space that will retain the name "Meicun" to preserve historical memories while breathing new life into the urban landscape.

In a symbolic exchange, Mayor Lu presented Dr. Lindgren with the book Echoing Footsteps of the American Military Presence in Taiwan: Taichung in the 1960s. In return, Dr. Lindgren gifted the Mayor a photograph of Taiwan captured from the International Space Station (ISS).

During his stay, Dr. Lindgren also visited the landmark Liu’s Bakery. Founded in the 1960s by retired Major Liu Zhe-chi, the bakery originated during the U.S. aid era. Influenced by American techniques and hygiene standards, its "apple bread" became a nostalgic staple for generations. As a living testament to Taiwan–U.S. exchanges, Liu’s Bakery symbolizes Taichung’s transformation from the era of U.S. aid to a modern city. The centenarian founder personally presented Dr. Lindgren with oversized and star-shaped apple breads, while Dr. Lindgren reciprocated with a NASA mission patch as a keepsake.

Following the reception for Dr. Lindgren, AIT Director Raymond Greene paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Lu later that afternoon. The two sides exchanged views on the development of both military and commercial drone industries.

Mayor Lu stated that Taichung possesses strong industrial foundations in four key sectors—precision machinery, optics, semiconductors, and aerospace—making it well-positioned to become a major hub for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development. With continued collaboration, American partners can provide technology licensing, technical standards, and access to global markets, while central Taiwan—including Taichung—can contribute research and development, manufacturing, and sales services. Through close cooperation, both sides can advance supply chain integration, potentially establishing the drone industry as Taiwan’s next strategic pillar alongside semiconductors.

The Taichung City Government added that Dr. Lindgren has completed two long-duration ISS missions, totaling 311 days in space, and conducted over 300 experiments spanning space agriculture, fluid dynamics, and medical research. His contributions have laid important groundwork for deep-space exploration. As a core member of the Artemis II mission, he continues to set records in crewed lunar exploration. He also famously worked with NASA to advise the production team of the film Project Hail Mary on technical aspects during filming.