By Nick Ni
March 15, 2016 ǀ Reporting from City of Industry
Honorable Ko Wen-je, Mayor of Taipei enjoys a warm welcome at a grand gala organized by the local community on March 15 in his honor. The mayor and his entourage are currently on a business trip to Los Angeles, a final leg of his nine-day visit to the United States.
In his keynote speech, Mayor Ko said, change of Taiwan starts from change of Taipei, while change of Taipei starts from change of culture. From a surgeon to a mayor, Ko expected to use his experience and his status of non-party affiliation to break the long time partisanship in Taiwan, change the political culture and better serve the people. And Ko stressed he would bring American urban managing experiences and advanced concepts back to Taiwan and make Taipei an even better city.
“I am deeply moved by the enthusiastic participation of the local community in this event, and everybody’s love of the homeland regardless of background and ideology,” said Mr. Alan Thian, member of Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission and the co-chair of the gala organizing committee.
Hon. John Chiang , California state Treasurer ,Director-General Steve C.C. Hsia of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles and some other dignitaries attended the Gala and extended their warm welcome to Mayor Ko.
Mr. Chiang, whose parents came from Taiwan, said he had been to Taiwan a couple of times, and was impressed by the achievements of Taipei. Under the leadership of Mayor Ko, Taipei would be even better.
Prior to Los Angeles, Mayor Ko and his delegation have travelled to San Francisco and Phoenix. Among his entourage are three members of the Taipei City Council Kao Chia-yu, Wang Min-sheng and Wang Wei-chung, Lin Chung-chieh, Commissioner of Department of Economic Development, Hung Shier-chieg, Commissioner of Department of Health, Hsieh Pei-ni, Commissioner of Department of Cultural Affairs and other Taipei city officials.
Taipei delegation toured Staples Center, the home court of Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Convention Center. They are scheduled to meet with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and visit Cal Tech and UCLA before returning to Taiwan.
