A Milestone in the City Diplomacy:the Signing of Our 23rd Sister City-Taichung City Extends Its Sister City Tie with Columbia
雙方承諾致力經貿、科技、教育、文化、農業、觀光合作交流 共同打造智慧、創新、宜居幸福城市
To build intelligent, innovative, and livable cities of happiness, Taichung and Columbia promised to promote cooperation and exchanges in business and trade, science and technology, education, culture, agriculture, and tourism in the future.
臺 中市長胡志強於103年3月12日下午6時30分率領市府國際事務委員會成員，在臺中長榮桂冠酒店3樓牡丹廳，與美國南卡羅萊納州首府哥倫比亞市市長本杰 明(The Hon. Stephen K. Benjamin)共同簽署了「臺中市與哥倫比亞市締結姊妹市盟約書」。儀式在兩市首長的熱烈互動中，歡欣鼓舞地展開，不僅揭開了歷史上臺中市與哥倫比亞 市姊妹市交流的首頁，也象徵著臺中市國際化的腳步又向前邁進了一大步，雙方將共同打造臺中市及哥倫比亞市成為世界上屬一屬二，充滿著智慧與關懷的宜居城 市。包括臺中市議會副議長張宏年、本杰明市長夫人、南卡州第二大郡里奇蘭郡(Richland County)郡長傑克遜(The Hon. Norman Jackson)，以及大力促成兩市締盟姊妹市的哥倫比亞市「臺灣及亞太地區名譽大使」陳權榮先生，也出席了這次簽署儀式。
Mayor Hu of Taichung City and Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin of the City of Columbia, USA signed a Sister City Agreement between Taichung City, R.O.C. (Taiwan), and the City of Columbia, the state capital of South Carolina at 18:30, March 12, 2014 in the Peony Ballroom of the Evergreen Hotel, Taichung. The agreement signing ceremony not only signifies the start of a new chapter in the sister city relations between the two cities but also an important milestone in Taichung City's efforts to enhance its international profile. Taichung and Columbia will join hands in building one-of-a kind communities that are intelligent, livable, and welcoming to all mankind.
Mr. Hung-Nien Chang, Deputy Speaker of Taichung City Council, Mrs. Benjamin, Norman Jackson, Chairman of Richland County, and Mr. Bob Chen, Columbia's Honorary Ambassador to Taiwan and the Pacific Rim, who played a vital role in bringing about the agreement, also participated in the ceremony.
生活首都 科技之城
胡 市長指出，臺中市是個文化觀光都市，也是個適合居住的好地方，不僅在臺灣被遠見雜誌選為「最佳退休友善縣市」，去年更榮獲國際智慧城市論壇 （Intelligent Community Forum, ICF）頒發「2013全球智慧城市首獎」，不但使本市國際能見度大為提升，並進一步使本市在數位知識及基礎設施上已達國際先進城市標準揚名國際。哥倫比 亞市是美國最早設計建造的城市之一，並被譽為「美國生活品質最佳之30個城市」之一，兩市在市政上有許多切磋的交流空間，相信未來在雙方政府與民間的相互 觀摩交流下，可發展出更多的合作機會。
A Livable City of Technology
Taichung is renowned as a city of culture and leisure and is an eminently suitable place in which to live, noted Taichung City Mayor Hu at the ceremony. Not only was it selected as the “Best City for People to Live After Retirement” by Global Views Monthly magazine, but it was also honored as 2013 Intelligent Community of the Year by the Intelligent Community Forum. The awards have increased Taichung's international exposure while strengthening the city's world leading position in setting benchmarks for digital knowledge and infrastructure. The City of Columbia is one of the first planned cities in the United States and has been listed among 30 of“America’s Most Livable Communities.”Through exchange and interaction between the two cities' public and private sectors, both sides will identify more opportunities for collaboration while learning from each other.
胡 市長指出，臺中市是個文化觀光都市，也是個適合居住的好地方，不僅在臺灣被遠見雜誌選為「最佳退休友善縣市」，去年更榮獲國際智慧城市論壇 （Intelligent Community Forum, ICF）頒發「2013全球智慧城市首獎」，不但使本市國際能見度大為提升，並進一步使本市在數位知識及基礎設施上已達國際先進城市標準揚名國際。哥倫比 亞市是美國最早設計建造的城市之一，並被譽為「美國生活品質最佳之30個城市」之一，兩市在市政上有許多切磋的交流空間，相信未來在雙方政府與民間的相互 觀摩交流下，可發展出更多的合作機會。
A Livable City of Technology
Taichung is renowned as a city of culture and leisure and is an eminently suitable place in which to live, noted Taichung City Mayor Hu at the ceremony. Not only was it selected as the “Best City for People to Live After Retirement” by Global Views Monthly magazine, but it was also honored as 2013 Intelligent Community of the Year by the Intelligent Community Forum. The awards have increased Taichung's international exposure while strengthening the city's world leading position in setting benchmarks for digital knowledge and infrastructure. The City of Columbia is one of the first planned cities in the United States and has been listed among 30 of“America’s Most Livable Communities.”Through exchange and interaction between the two cities' public and private sectors, both sides will identify more opportunities for collaboration while learning from each other.
本 杰明市長則表示，臺灣與哥倫比亞市所在的南卡羅萊納州擁有30年以上的姊妹州情誼，希望兩市能在這別具意義的歷史情誼上，加強雙方的了解並促進經濟及文化 的交流。奠基於長期的文化交流基礎及現在的姊妹市情誼，哥倫比亞市與臺中市建立一個新的合作關係，今年在經濟方面我們將加強經貿投資以促進雙方人民的繁榮 發展。此次簽署的盟約書內容涵蓋著建立現代城市發展的共同價值，兩市將在保持密切聯繫的相互承諾之下，在雙方既有之市政基礎上增進瞭解，建立互信與互賴，為謀求兩市市民自由安康的生活而努力。
As the State of South Carolina and Taiwan have been sharing a sister-state relationship for more than thirty years, Mayor Benjamin said,“it is our sincere desire to build upon that legacy because we believe in the potential these relationships hold to foster greater understanding and promote mutual economic and cultural benefit.”We believe that this partnership of cultural exchange lays a firm foundation upon which to stand and, along with our recently approved sister city relationship with Taichung City, creates a new spirit of collaboration that, as we focus on promoting trade and encouraging new economic investment in this year of economic development, will secure a new and more prosperous future for both of our peoples.
The agreement between Taichung City and the City of Columbia seeks to establish and protect the mutual values of these two modern metropolises. Both cities vow to maintain their close alliance and improve bilateral understanding and trust, making every effort to contribute to the freedom and prosperity of people in both the City of Columbia and Taichung City.
The agreement between Taichung City and the City of Columbia seeks to establish and protect the mutual values of these two modern metropolises. Both cities vow to maintain their close alliance and improve bilateral understanding and trust, making every effort to contribute to the freedom and prosperity of people in both the City of Columbia and Taichung City.
同時致力於：
一、加速都市現代化建設，謀求社會之安康樂利。
二、交換市政建設經驗，加強彼此觀摩訪問。
三、增進經貿、科技、文化、教育、農業及觀光之合作，強固休戚關係。
Both cities agree to:
(1) accelerate urban modernization and enhance social stability and prosperity; (2) exchange experiences regarding municipal planning and development, organizing visits and learning from each other; (3) promote cooperation in the areas of business and trade, science and technology, culture, education, agriculture and tourism in order to strengthen their close relationship.
一、加速都市現代化建設，謀求社會之安康樂利。
二、交換市政建設經驗，加強彼此觀摩訪問。
三、增進經貿、科技、文化、教育、農業及觀光之合作，強固休戚關係。
Both cities agree to:
(1) accelerate urban modernization and enhance social stability and prosperity; (2) exchange experiences regarding municipal planning and development, organizing visits and learning from each other; (3) promote cooperation in the areas of business and trade, science and technology, culture, education, agriculture and tourism in order to strengthen their close relationship.
全面增進雙方交流發展
哥 倫比亞市不僅是個擁有悠久歷史的文化城市，在高科技、綠能、物流及機械產業上也有著高度的發展成就，此次姊妹市盟約簽訂，臺中市將成為哥倫比亞市在亞太地 區的第一個姊妹市。不僅可使臺中市在美國東南地區打響名號，建立友好形象及知名度，更可藉兩市在經貿、科技、文化、教育、農業及觀光等方面交流，增進兩市 對彼此的瞭解與認識，促使兩市在全球化競爭的挑戰中，透過積極的建設性夥伴關係相互提攜，共同提升城市競爭力。
本杰明市長在與胡市長共同簽署締結姊妹市盟約書之前，曾先分別前往臺中港及中部科學工業園區等地參訪，對於臺中市科技產業的高度發展給予諸多好評，並對臺中市現代化的市政建設留下了深刻的印象。 (臺中市政府秘書處 廣告)
Further Intercity Exchanges of Every Variety
The City of Columbia is a historic city with rich cultural heritage. It is also known for its highly developed high tech, green energy, logistics, and machinery industries. The signing of the agreement makes Taichung Columbia's first sister city in the Asia Pacific Region. The agreement will enhance Taichung's image and increase its visibility in southeast United States as it promotes exchanges and mutual understanding in business and trade, science and technology, culture, education, agriculture and tourism between the two cities. In the future, the agreement will also pave the way for mutually beneficial collaborative partnerships to enhance both cities' global competitiveness in an era of global competition.
Mayor Benjamin visited Taichung Port and Central Taiwan Science Park prior to the signing of the agreement. He praised Taichung for the robust development of its science and technology industry and was very impressed with the city's infrastructure and public programs.
哥 倫比亞市不僅是個擁有悠久歷史的文化城市，在高科技、綠能、物流及機械產業上也有著高度的發展成就，此次姊妹市盟約簽訂，臺中市將成為哥倫比亞市在亞太地 區的第一個姊妹市。不僅可使臺中市在美國東南地區打響名號，建立友好形象及知名度，更可藉兩市在經貿、科技、文化、教育、農業及觀光等方面交流，增進兩市 對彼此的瞭解與認識，促使兩市在全球化競爭的挑戰中，透過積極的建設性夥伴關係相互提攜，共同提升城市競爭力。
本杰明市長在與胡市長共同簽署締結姊妹市盟約書之前，曾先分別前往臺中港及中部科學工業園區等地參訪，對於臺中市科技產業的高度發展給予諸多好評，並對臺中市現代化的市政建設留下了深刻的印象。 (臺中市政府秘書處 廣告)
Further Intercity Exchanges of Every Variety
The City of Columbia is a historic city with rich cultural heritage. It is also known for its highly developed high tech, green energy, logistics, and machinery industries. The signing of the agreement makes Taichung Columbia's first sister city in the Asia Pacific Region. The agreement will enhance Taichung's image and increase its visibility in southeast United States as it promotes exchanges and mutual understanding in business and trade, science and technology, culture, education, agriculture and tourism between the two cities. In the future, the agreement will also pave the way for mutually beneficial collaborative partnerships to enhance both cities' global competitiveness in an era of global competition.
Mayor Benjamin visited Taichung Port and Central Taiwan Science Park prior to the signing of the agreement. He praised Taichung for the robust development of its science and technology industry and was very impressed with the city's infrastructure and public programs.
