TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kaohsiung City has officially become a sister city with Guam on Thursday (March 5), marking a significant step in Taiwan-U.S. city diplomacy. Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) signed the agreement to solidify this partnership. This development aims to enhance tourism cooperation and cultural exchange between the two regions.
Governor Guerrero, who visited Kaohsiung in 2025, returned with representatives from the Guam Visitors Bureau (關島遊客局) and the Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA, 關島經濟發展局) to finalize the sister-city agreement. Mayor Chen welcomed her return, discussing potential collaborations in tourism and exchanging views on culture, smart healthcare, and education. "Kaohsiung and Guam have a high degree of complementarity in the tourism industry, marine sustainability, and educational exchanges," Chen stated, emphasizing the foundational role of the sister city agreement in future cooperation.
Guerrero highlighted the shared Austronesian cultural heritage between Guam and Taiwan, noting tourism as Guam's most valuable asset. She expressed her hope to boost mutual visits and development between the two populations. "Kaohsiung has mature technology in the semiconductor and aquaculture industries," Guerrero said, looking forward to deepening exchanges in tourism, agriculture, fisheries, healthcare, and smart governance.
Heidi Chang (張硯卿), director of the Administrative and International Affairs Department of Kaohsiung (高雄行政暨國際處), noted that this year's participation marks Guam's second consecutive year at the Sunshine Island Vibe Fest (日光海島生活節). This year, Guerrero will lead the delegation at the festival's opening ceremony, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing engagement. Chang pointed out that Kaohsiung promotes diverse Taiwan-U.S. collaborations in smart cities, industrial transformation, educational cooperation, and cultural exchange, aiming to continue fostering substantial city interactions in the future.