Kaohsiung Delegation's Visit Australia / 高雄出航 台灣發光
◎English Translation by Sandra Ou ◎English Editor: Carol Toop
The acting Mayor of Kaohsiung city, Chu-Lan Yeh, led a delegation to Brisbane and Sydney in Australia, commencing August 2nd to August 9th. The delegation aimed to gain municipal perspectives, promote cultural exchange and solicit business and trade investment between the three cities of Sydney, Brisbane and Kaohsiung. The delegation, comprised of various Director-Generals, represented the Public Works Bureau, the Transportation Bureau, the Environmental Protection Bureau, the Marine Bureau and the Information Office.
Many may be aware that there is a Brisbane Park in Kaohsiung, and interestingly, there is also a Kaohsiung Park in Brisbane. While in Brisbane, the delegation was honored to be invited to attend the unveiling ceremony of "Kaohsiung Place" and "Kaohsiung Park", both of which were named after Kaohsiung in order to commemorate ever stronger sister city ties between these two cities. In addition, Koahsiung Place is located at South Bank, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in town.
Cultural appeal became the best approach in order to promote Kaohsiung during the delegation's visit; Kaohsiung City Government proudly introduced "Concerto the of Love River", with this view in mind. It were performed by the Kaohsiung City Chinese Orchestra, featuring the well-known pianist Ruei-Bing Chen in the Sydney Opera House. Their extraordinary performance received positive responses and impressed many by its excellence. Mayor Yeh said that these two cities communicated through music, without boundary. The performance of "Concerto of the Love River", vividly and lucidly the interpreted the Love River to friends in Sydney.
The main purpose of this visit was to hold "Kaohsiung Trade Seminar" in Brisbane. Brisbane Mayor, Mr. Campbell Newman, and many business investors, took part in this seminar. The delegation seized this opportunity to further elucidate Kaohsiung's investment potential in Brisbane. Acting Mayor Yeh pointed out that Kaohsiung is progressively carrying out many major infrastructures, such as the now regenerated the waterfront area, the construction of the Main Stadium for the Kaohsiung World Games 2009. Plus, the underground and light railway systems. She stated that Kaohsiung is keen to lure more foreign investment to the city. The Brisbane Mayor consented to visit Kaohsiung next year to celebrate to the 10th anniversary of the twinning of these two cites. He would also like to review the feasibility of possible future investment by their city in Kaohsiung.
The delegation from Kaohsiung when visiting Australia, gained valuable lessons by observing the Randwich City Recycle Center, the regenerated port construction between Sydney and Brisbane, the planning of Brisbane's airport and port, the Rapid Bus Transit System and the developments of the marine leisure industry. The city government regarded all these development as promising indications for the successful future development of Kaohsiung.
◎文／王御風
高雄市代理市長葉菊蘭於８月2日至9日，帶領工務、交通、環保、海洋、新聞等局處首長至澳洲雪梨及布里斯本等市進行文化交流、經貿投資、促進姊妹市情誼，並汲取澳洲當地城市市政建設經驗，為高雄市政注入新活水。
此次參訪高雄市的姐妹市布里斯，訪問團參加位於布市最重要觀光景點南岸公園的「高雄地標」揭幕儀式以及「高雄公園」的啟用典禮，更見證兩市情誼。
訪問團此行以文化交流行銷台灣高雄，由高雄市立國樂團及知名旅奧鋼琴家陳瑞斌於雪梨歌劇院表演「愛河鋼琴協奏曲」。其動人的樂聲獲得全場觀眾熱情回響，葉代理市長表示，藉由音樂交流，讓更多國際友人知道高雄有一條以愛為名之河，進而對高雄更瞭解。
「城市投資招商」更是本次出訪的重點工作，此行的「高雄願景及投資說明會」，由葉代理市長與布里斯本市市長Campbell Newman(紐曼)連袂出席，澳洲重要政商界人士及當地僑胞等均出席說明會，顯見當地政商界對該場說明會的重視；葉代理市長致詞時，強調高雄目前正積極推動多項重大城市基礎建設，包括港區規劃、2009世運主場館暨世貿場館興建、鐵路地下化、捷運輕軌等，是相當具有潛力和商機的城市。葉代理市長說：「帶著您的事業到台灣高雄市發展吧！」熱烈期待更多的國際優秀團隊投資高雄，布里斯本市紐曼市長也欣然允諾明年訪問高雄，慶祝姊妹市建交10週年，並實地瞭解高雄投資環境。
除了成功行銷外，訪問團更由市政學習參訪獲得許多寶貴經驗，包括Randwick市之資源回收中心、雪梨及布里斯本兩市之間的港灣建設及河岸更新計畫、布市海空港雙港規劃及快速交通轉運系統、雪梨國際傳展及海洋休閒產業（遊艇發展）等，對本市團隊視野、未來城市規劃願景都有很大啟發。