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Taoyuan and GAM to Increase Exchanges in Sustainability, Innovation, and Sports After Bilateral Talk

  • 發布單位:國際事務科
  • 聯絡人:Winnie Chen
  • 聯絡人電話:03-3322101#6520-6522
  • 資料提供單位:桃園市政府

After five online talks with cities including Brno of Czech Republic in the series of “COVID-19 Epidemic Prevention—Talks Between Global City Leaders,” the Secretariat of Taoyuan City Government held another online panel for Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan, President Christophe Ferrari of Grenoble-Alpes Métropole (GAM), and Taiwan’s Representative to France Wu Chih-chung on January 7. The online panel saw the three panelists exchange opinions in pandemic control and relief measures in both Taiwan and France as well as their future collaboration. Both cities hope to continue to broaden the exchange in sustainability, technology, innovation, education, and sports between Taiwan and France.

“After a year of its anti-pandemic efforts, Taiwan has been called the safest place on earth. Taiwan has taken a cautious approach to quickly respond to the pandemic and initiated pre-emptive deployment at the onset of the coronavirus outbreak. The successful example of Taiwan’s pandemic prevention efforts combined with precision, democracy, and civilization came about because of the use of big data, ICT technologies, and AI.” said Mayor Cheng.

“As the gateway city of Taiwan, Taoyuan shoulders the responsibility of epidemic prevention at the border. At the front line of the global pandemic, Taoyuan has implemented measures of monitoring and tracing as well as border control of COVID-19. Since last December, the city government has aligned itself with the Central Epidemic Command Center’s Fall-Winter COVID-19 Prevention Program by enhancing screening and testing at the border, epidemic prevention measures at local communities, and medical response mechanism in the city,” said Mayor Cheng. “In addition, the Electronic Fence 2.0 has helped prevent individuals in self-health management periods from attending large events.”

“Taoyuan has granted contingency relief payouts of NT$600 million to its citizens in addition to the NT$1.05 trillion provided by the central government’s relief program and the stimulus vouchers of NT$3,000 issued to all Taiwanese citizens. The city also launched a special employment program to offer its citizens hourly job opportunities at the city government during the difficult time. Aside from keeping the pandemic under control, Taiwan has also managed to keep its economy open and registered a positive economic growth during this period.” said Mayor Cheng.

“Taiwan’s success in the fight against the pandemic that devastated the world in the past year was highly recognized by the international community,” said Representative Wu. “Taiwan covers a land area as big as the Netherlands, and its economic and military strengths are similar to that of Sweden and Canada respectively. Taiwan also values democracy, human rights, freedom, and diversity as France does.”

In a French Senate’s hearing on the management of the COVID-19 crisis, Representative Wu shared Taiwan’s strategy of containing the spread of the coronavirus on behalf of Taiwan. He spoke candidly about how people had deemed Taiwan’s anti-epidemic measures to be a potential failure because of its proximity to China and the number of inbound Chinese tourists to the country. “Taiwan’s success story can be attributed to the public attention given to the development of the pandemic in the country and the government’s early responses to the coronavirus outbreak.” said Representative Wu.

“GAM’s beautiful mountains are well-loved by tourists and that it is selected as the European Green Capital 2022. The metropole is home to several important R&D institutions and many top universities. In addition, the government also provides assistance and support for the development of enterprises and investment made by foreign enterprises.” said President Ferrari.

“France’s anti-epidemic measures were adopted two months after those in Taiwan had been put in place. Since then, the French government has ordered a total of two lockdowns so far, implemented curfews during Christmas and New Year holidays, and closed down restaurants, bars, and “non-essential” shops to contain the spread of the coronavirus.” said President Ferrari.

“The French government has issued €100 billion payouts through its recovery plan and launched relief measures such as boosting the internal demand, reducing taxes, deferring tax payments, offering loans, and streamlining businesses’ application process for the relief and bailout project. The GAM has also provided a Metropolitan Solidarity Fund worth of €2 million to 1,400 local companies.” said President Ferrari.

“Awarded as the 2019 Intelligent Community of the Year and served as ICLEI’s EcoLogistics community chair, Taoyuan issued a Voluntary Local Review on the Sustainable Development Goals. Designated as the European Green Capital 2022, the GAM is the world’s fifth largest innovative city and France’s second largest city of bike commuters. In this regard, I believe that environmental sustainability, smart city, and innovative technologies are worth pursuing for future exchanges between Taoyuan and the GAM.” said Mayor Cheng.

“Taiwan and France have maintained close exchanges in science, I hope to see Taoyuan and the GAM continues to deepen bilateral ties with each other.” said Representative Wu. At the end of the online panel, Mayor Cheng wrote “Taïwan peut aider” on the message board to President Ferrari, who, in return, wrote “Taiwan Can Help! Grenoble-Alpes Métropole always by your side” to lend his support to friends in Taiwan.

“This year marks the third anniversary since Taoyuan and the GAM, the “European Silicon Vally,” signed a memorandum of understanding to become sister cities. The city government has been actively encouraging local startup hubs to become startup partners of France by joining the “French Tech Taiwan” and has sent delegations to the GAM for exchanges in areas of women’s soccer and talent cultivation to strengthen the bonds between sister schools in Taoyuan and the GAM,” said Yen Tzu-chieh, Director-general of the Secretariat. “Although the global pandemic has halted the two sides’ exchanges of innovative technologies, school visits, and sports, the city hopes to continue the collaboration and exchanges with its sister city once the pandemic is over.”