Kaohsiung Delegation's Visit to Japan / 城市外交之旅── 日本參訪
◎Written by Tousan ◎Photograph by Jung-hui Pao
During end of April 2006, Acting Mayor Chu-lan Yeh led Kaohsiung's delegation on a 5-day visit to Japan. The delegation met with Mr. Takeo Hiranuma, Chairman of Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council , Mrs. Chikage Ogi, President of the Upper House, Mr. Hiroshi Nakada, Mayor of Yokohama, Mr. Shintaro Ishihara, Governor of Tokyo, and Mr. Ryuichi Kurosu, Mayor of Hachioji.
Since the 1970s, Taiwan has experienced a number of diplomatic setbacks. These setbacks have been predominately due to China's emergence as a huge economic power. These meetings presented opportunities for Kaohsiung to exchange views on urban development with Tokyo, Yokohama and Hachioji. It also gave Mayor Yeh the opportunity to meet with a few political heavyweights. Mayor Yeh cherished this experience very much and appreciated Japan's recognition of her contributions to democracy and peace in Taiwan. She also treasured the recognition given to Kaohsiung's efforts.
One of the goals of the visit was to establish a closer relationship with Hachioji City. There is a mountain called Mt. Takao in Hachioji. In Chinese, Takao and Kaohsiung are written the same way. Takao is how the Japanese pronounce Kaohsiung. On November 3rd of last year, this coincidence brought about a visit from Hachioji's Mayor Kurosu. Deputy Mayor Tanaka also visited Kaohsiung on February 21st of this year. Mayor Yeh's trip was a quest to establish a lasting relationship between the two cities.
The land area of Hachioji is similar to that of Kaohsiung's, but only has one third of the population. Hachioji has 21 colleges and universities. Hachioji has a well-developed sewage system and is only 40 minutes away from Shinjuku City. It provides a very desirable living environment for its residents.
On May 1st, the proposal to increase goodwill exchanges between Hachioji and Kaohsiung was approved in Hachioji's City Council. Hachioji has officially committed to strengthening bonds with Kaohsiung. It is not only a giant leap forward for Kaohsiung, but also a diplomatic breakthrough for Taiwan. At present, the only other city in Taiwan that has established such a relationship with a Japanese city is Hsinchu. Hsinchu has established a relationship with Okayama City. These types interactions can raise Kaohsiung's international visibility, and bring about more integration with the rest of the world.
Recently, Kaohsiung has come into the forefront of the international arena. Under Mayor Yeh's leadership and other collective efforts, Kaohsiung hopes to increase its diplomatic relations.
◎文／鄧淑晶 ◎攝影／高嘉澤
高雄市代理市長葉菊蘭於４月下旬帶領市府訪問團一行人赴日展開為期５天的交流訪問，在這５天行程中拜會日本議員對台友好組織「日華議員懇談會」平沼赳夫會長（Mr.HIRAZAWA Takeo）、日本參議院扇千景議長（Mrs.Oogi Chikage）、亞洲各港灣城市聯盟(CITYNET)之發起城市橫濱市中田宏市長（Mr. NAKADA Hirosi）、東京都石原慎太郎知事（Mr.ISHIHARA Sintoro）及八王子市黑須隆一市長（Mr.KUROSU Takaichi）等。
正如大家所知，自70年代以來台灣的外交處境日益艱困，尤其近幾年隨著中國大陸經濟崛起更甚。此次葉代理市長除了與東京、橫濱、八王子市首長討論市政外，也能與日本具有代表性的政治家會面，誠屬可貴。這代表著日本政界肯定葉代理市長致力推動民主和平的貢獻，換言之，本市近年來的市政建設的努力成果已獲得日本政界正面的肯定。
此次訪日行程重點之一為與八王子市交流的建立。八王子市境內有座山「高尾山」其發音與高雄日語發音同為"Takao"，在此際緣下，該市去年11月３日黑須市長及今年２月21日田中副市長相繼至本市訪問並進行兩市交流；葉代理市長此次的回訪乃是冀望兩市交流能有具體成效。
八王子市面積與高雄雷同，人口約本市1／3，但境內有21所大學，是個名符其實的「學園都市」，除此該市下水道鋪設率達百分之百，又離新宿40分鐘，因此締造出以「人」為本的生活居住環境。
而攸關兩市交流案該市議會已於５月１日正式通過審議，八王子正式與本市締結友好關係，這不僅對高雄市在城市外交上的一大躍進，也是我國外交上一大突破。我國目前與日本正式締結友好關係的城市只有新竹市（與日本的岡山市），今後可藉友好城市的交流提昇高雄的國際能見度，促進高雄與國際的接軌。
高雄市在國際舞台上逐漸展現本市的特色，冀望在葉代理市長的帶領以及全體市民的共同努力下，本市與其它國際城市的交流能有更多的突破與進展。