Mayor Tom Tate of Gold Coast, Australia, and the city’s Senior International Engagement Advisor Katrina Metcalfe called on Tainan City Mayor Huang Wei-che on May 15. The delegation was accompanied by Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner Juna Ferrett. Director-General Su En-en of the Tainan City Government’s Department of Information and International Relations was also present. During the meeting, both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on city diplomacy.
Mayor Huang Wei-che expressed that Tainan City and the Gold Coast have enjoyed a strong and enduring friendship since becoming sister cities in 1982. To express Tainan’s gratitude for the Gold Coast’s longstanding support, Mayor Huang announced that a new road in the South District will be named Gold Coast Road, symbolizing the lasting bond between the two cities. Mayor Huang also warmly welcomed the visiting delegation and presented the Key to the City to Mayor Tate, noting that Mayor Tate’s repeated visits to Tainan further demonstrate the strength of their sister-city relationship. Finally, Mayor Huang extended an invitation to Mayor Tate and the citizens of the Gold Coast to visit Tainan often.
Mayor Huang went on to express that Tainan is Taiwan’s oldest city and is known as the Cultural Capital. Like the Gold Coast, Tainan is a friendly and welcoming city with a diverse cultural background. The Mayor looks forward to further collaborations with the Gold Coast in the areas of industry, culture, education, and sports.
Mayor Tate responded that Gold Coast and Tainan share an enduring relationship that will be passed down to future generations. While Gold Coast is a relatively young city, it still shares many similarities with the ancient city of Tainan. These commonalities present potential areas for future collaboration, including climate change responses, education and youth development, and innovative medicine. Furthermore, Mayor Tate expressed his admiration for Tainan’s culinary culture. He hopes to have the opportunity to visit Tainan with his family and share the city’s unique charm and culture with them.
An active promoter of global city exchanges, Mayor Tate has led delegations to Tainan City on several occasions. The City of Gold Coast, located in Queensland - Australia’s “Sunshine State” on the east coast - is an internationally renowned tourism destination known for its pleasant climate and beautiful scenery. Tainan and Gold Coast have enjoyed a sister city relationship for 43 years, celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2022. To mark the occasion, the two mayors exchanged brief video messages of goodwill, and Tainan hosted a popular Gold Coast-themed static exhibition for the public.