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“Taoyuan Helps” Taoyuan comes to the aid of friendship cities and sister cities

  • 發布單位:國際事務科
  • 聯絡人:Winnie Chen
  • 聯絡人電話:03-3322101#6520-6522

Taoyuan has spared no effort in aiding its friendship cities and sister cities during the global COVID-19 pandemic by providing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks, hand sanitizer, goggles, gloves, and protective clothing. Taoyuan has embodied the spirit of "Taoyuan has your back; Taoyuan helps" through tangible actions, aiding its friends in all corners of the world.

Missioncare CEO Fred Yang, Missioncare Asset Management Corporation Chairman Charles Chang and Mytrex Health Technologies President Sy-Ming Guu donated 100,000 surgical masks during the municipal meeting (17th of June). Mytrex Health Technologies, a face mask manufacturer located in Taoyuan, is a member of Taiwan's "national face mask team," says Taoyuan City Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan. Mytrex has played a key role in supporting the capacity of face mask production in Taiwan and has generously provided 100,000 surgical masks for Taoyuan to donate to its sister cities. Mayor Cheng is grateful for Mytrex's contributions in providing medical services and organizing and supplying PPE.

Taoyuan has sent PPE including face masks, hand sanitizer, goggles, gloves, and protective clothing to San Bernardino County, Long Beach City (California, US); Dallas County, Garland, Grand Prairie, Houston (Texas, US); Utrecht (the Netherlands); and Chiba Prefecture, Narita City, Kaga City in Ishikawa Prefecture, Kagawa Prefecture, and Miyazaki Prefecture (Japan).

The boxes of PPE sent to Taoyuan's friendship cities in Japan were printed with a quote from prominent Japanese writer Kenji Miyazawa that reads "fearless in the face of a storm" as encouragement. After having received the supplies, the Mayor of Kaga gifted Taoyuan with a certificate of appreciation to show his gratitude toward Taoyuan.

Narita City's mascot, Unari-kun, and Taoyuan's mascots, Tao and Yuango, attended the press conference where Davis Chung, president of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Chiba donated PPE to Chiba Prefecture and Narita City on behalf of Taoyuan City. Unari-kun thanked Taoyuan in a tweet, "Our friends in Taoyuan has given Narita City great support!" Many netizens in Japan thanked Taoyuan in the comments section of similar tweets and expressed interest in traveling to Taoyuan after the pandemic comes to an end. Japanese media have also reported on Taoyuan's efforts and thanked Taoyuan for its care and aid.

Taoyuan has long had a close friendship with San Bernardino County, California. National Policy Advisor Alan Thian and Municipal Advisor Lynn Wen represented Taoyuan in donating supplies to San Bernardino County. In a letter of appreciation, San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman wrote that he hopes for the pandemic to end soon and that he looks forward to resuming non-stop flights between Ontario and Taoyuan international airport as soon as possible. Both parties encouraged each other on twitter, and foreign media reported that "Mr. Hagman greatly appreciates the PPE provided by San Bernardino County's friends in Taiwan."

PPE, such as gloves and goggles, were donated to Dallas, Texas, through the Greater Dallas Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce (GDTCC) Sister Cities Committee, ensuring that resources reach the hands of those in need.

Yen Tzu-chieh, Director-general of Taoyuan's Secretariat, stated that in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, many foreign nationals who were planning to visit Taoyuan have had no choice but to cancel their travel plans. Nevertheless, Taoyuan's connections with its friendship cities remain strong. Other than proactively taking part in international organization video conferences on disease prevention and sharing its experiences in combating outbreaks, Taoyuan has ensured to maintain its efforts in city diplomacy.