TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Mayors from four northern Taiwan cities gathered in Keelung Wednesday (July 23) for the third mayoral summit of the Keelung-Taipei-New Taipei-Taoyuan Cooperation Platform. The regional leaders focused on promoting sustainable development across northern Taiwan through coordinated collaboration on eight critical policy areas. The meeting underscored growing inter-municipal cooperation as Taiwan's densely populated northern corridor seeks unified approaches to environmental and infrastructure challenges.
Transportation infrastructure dominated discussions, with Keelung and New Taipei coordinating efforts to integrate Badu Station (八堵站) MRT rapid transit facilities alongside reconstruction of the Liuhe (六合) Bridge MRT project. Disaster prevention emerged as another priority, with the four municipalities planning to enhance emergency response capabilities through coordinated manpower support, experience sharing, and strategic resource allocation across the region.
Educational and cultural initiatives include Keelung launching campus net-zero carbon sink teacher training in August, while Taipei offers specialized courses on campus tree climate action. New Taipei and Taoyuan have collaborated on campus tree carbon sink training workshops since 2024, expanding environmental education programs. The municipalities also plan to stimulate youth entrepreneurship through innovation competitions and cross-city exchanges, fostering regional economic development and creative collaboration.
Public health and social welfare initiatives include establishing a dedicated pediatrician system and implementing cross-regional three-party visitation mechanisms to improve care for children in high-risk families. The cities committed to promoting sustainable green tourism through 15 carefully designed eco-friendly itineraries, directly supporting their ambitious collective goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. These comprehensive efforts reflect Taiwan's broader environmental commitments and inter-municipal cooperation strategies. ◼