Berlin: Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (???) wrapped up a packed day of diplomacy in Berlin on Tuesday, signing a memorandum of understanding with G¶rlitz and holding talks with German lawmakers. Lu said on threads that under the MOU, the two sides will establish exchange mechanisms covering areas including energy, technology, culture, education, and disaster prevention, with the aim of expanding practical cooperation.
According to Focus Taiwan, G¶rlitz District Administrator Stephan Meyer expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership, highlighting G¶rlitz's strategic position as a bridge for Taiwanese supply chains entering Central Europe. He emphasized that Taichung could serve as G¶rlitz's gateway to Asia, fostering mutual growth in various sectors. "Whether in the energy transition, digitalization, research, business, culture, or workforce development, we want to learn from one another, develop ideas together and create new opportunities for our region," Meyer stated.
Meyer further elaborated on the shared strengths between Taichung and G¶rlitz, particularly in smart manufacturing, precision engineering, and industrial innovation. He noted the advantageous proximity of the Saxon border city to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) plant in Dresden, which is strategically located at the crossroads of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Meyer also shared a personal anecdote, revealing that the tie he wore to the signing ceremony was a gift from his first visit to Taiwan as a student, symbolizing the lasting connection between the two regions.
Earlier in the day, Mayor Lu visited the German parliament, engaging with members of the cross-party Taiwan friendship group. Lu's delegation is currently on a city diplomacy trip that will cover Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria, scheduled to run until June 15. The next stop is Dresden, where the TSMC-led European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC) fab is set to commence production next year. This development is expected to result in approximately 2,000 engineers traveling annually from Dresden to Taichung for training, further cementing the relationship between the two cities.