Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

Taipei City Government hosted the highly anticipated 2023 Smart City Mayors’ Summit, where 22 cross-border mayors and municipal representatives from 27 cities across 15 countries convened to exchange the latest governance strategies and trends. This gathering served as a platform for Taipei City to emphasize its commitment to citizen-centric governance and learn from international best practices. The summit showcased Taipei City's dedication to integrating public services and smart communities to enhance services and expand its global influence. The city government, under the new administration, affirmed its active participation in international affairs and humanitarian aid initiatives.

During the summit, Muhammed Berdibek, the Representative of the Turkish Trade Office in Taipei, expressed his gratitude and for the support extended by Taipei City and the international community following the recent earthquake in Turkey. He specifically acknowledged Taipei City for swiftly dispatching rescue teams to assist in search and rescue operations. Representative Berdibek highlighted Turkey's achievements in smart city development and emphasized the country's focus on leveraging technology and innovative solutions to mitigate the impact of disasters.

Shih-Lung Chao (趙式隆), Commissioner of Taipei City Government's Department of Information Technology, delivered a keynote presentation on "New Opportunities for Smart Cities: Outlook for Digital Transformation in the Public Sector." Commissioner Chao also moderated panel discussions during the Smart City Mayors’ Roundtable, facilitating idea exchanges among domestic and international city leaders and representatives.

The discussions at the summit centered around two key themes: "Industry Development for Addressing Public Service Needs" and "Building and Establishing Intelligent Communities." Participants explored the role of public-private partnerships in integrating public services and smart communities to accelerate problem-solving efforts. The importance of developing intelligent communities for sustainable cities was widely acknowledged, with an emphasis on innovative practices and collaboration among regions, cities, and countries to identify common challenges and solutions.

Notable opinions on promoting smart cities were shared by representatives from various countries such as:

Vytautas Grubliauskas, the Mayor of Klaipeda, Lithuania, stressed the need for a resilient smart city that can effectively respond to disasters, giving importance to the contribution of medical personnel and the energy required for these efforts.

Edward Pollard, City Councilor of Houston, U.S.A., highlighted the importance of resource integration, incentive measures, and a willingness to embrace non-traditional approaches to providing general services to promote public-private partnerships.

Gábor Kerpel-Fronius, Deputy Mayor of Budapest, Hungary, emphasized the adoption of appropriate solutions tailored to address specific issues, going beyond relying solely on data and technical solutions.

Mindaugas Sinkevičius, Mayor of Jonava District Municipality, Lithuania, underscored the significance of digital inclusion as the core foundation for promoting smart cities, enabling citizen-participatory budget systems and ensuring equitable benefits.

Ruben Latcau, Deputy Mayor of Timisoara, Romania, discussed the importance of an efficient smart city transportation management system, highlighting the role of advanced technologies in enhancing public transportation infrastructure and ensuring smoother and safer mobility.

The Mayors’ Summit also featured two CTalk forums. The first forum focused on "Smart Finance and Taxation," where Shih-Ming You (游適銘), Commissioner of Taipei City Government's Department of Finance shared insights on the city's self-government ordinance for net-zero emissions management. The second forum revolved around “Humanity-Oriented Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Development,” with Jong-Ming Chen(陳榮明) Deputy Commissioner from Taipei City Government's Department of Transportation presenting technological solutions for optimizing urban transportation systems.

Taipei City has established itself as a responsible and engaged international partner, actively fostering dialogue and collaboration with friends and partners worldwide. Through its endeavors in areas such as smart city initiatives, participation in international organizations, strong sister city relationships, and close ties with the expat community, Taipei City has demonstrated its commitment to global cooperation. The city's support for Ukrainian refugees and its sharing of best practices for COVID-19 response with sister and partner cities further exemplify its dedication to addressing pressing global challenges. Moreover, Taipei City has displayed its unwavering commitment to humanitarian aid by providing immediate and substantial support for earthquake relief in Turkey. With a longstanding commitment to helping those in need, Taipei City will continue to be a beacon of goodwill and solidarity on the international stage.