Mayor Andriy Sadovyy of Lviv, the largest city in western Ukraine, led a delegation to meet with Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chi-Mai on the 30th. The two sides held an in-depth exchange on topics such as medical collaboration and community reconstruction and signed a letter of intent for the UNBROKEN Cities Network, demonstrating Kaohsiung City’s support for peace and commitment to building a mutual aid network.
During his heartfelt welcoming remarks to the visiting Lviv delegation, Mayor Chen reaffirmed Kaohsiung’s steadfast support for freedom and peace, extended his profound condolences for the casualties Ukraine has suffered since the outbreak of the war, and paid tribute to the extraordinary bravery its citizens have exhibited throughout the conflict. He recalled the interactions between Kaohsiung and Ukraine, noting that, in addition to humanitarian aids and supply donations carried out through both official and civic efforts, the city has continued art and cultural exchanges with Ukraine despite the ongoing conflict. At the 2022 Kaohsiung Film Festival, the event centered on the anti-war theme of “speaking up for freedom,” showcasing the latest films about social changes in Ukraine and Russia. In 2023, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine was invited to perform in Kaohsiung, conveying a wish for peace through beautiful music and receiving widespread acclaim. The Kaohsiung Music Center also lit up its building in the colors of the Ukrainian national flag to demonstrate the city’s support for Ukraine.
Mayor Sadovyy expressed his gratitude to the Kaohsiung City Government for its warm hospitality and for arranging visits to institutions such as the Intelligent Transportation Center and the Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital, which offered valuable insights into Kaohsiung’s smart city development. He remarked that Kaohsiung’s steadfast commitment to freedom and democracy has given Ukraine greater courage in defending its own. Mayor Sadovyy also introduced the UNBROKEN Cities Network initiated by Lviv, noting that the city is currently focused on rebuilding medical and rehabilitation facilities destroyed during the war, while also advancing projects in areas such as education, rehabilitation, and mental health care. He expressed his belief that Lviv’s experience in these efforts could serve as an important reference for other countries facing similar challenges.
Mayor Chen and Mayor Sadovyy jointly signed the letter of intent for the UNBROKEN Cities Network, symbolizing the spirit of mutual assistance and support network within the international community. With the signing, Kaohsiung became a member of the UNBROKEN Cities Network and the first Asian city to join this initiative. It aims to provide support to cities and people affected by the traumas of war. Member cities include Greater Manchester and the Liverpool Urban Area in the UK, Cannes in France, Oslo in Norway, and Rzeszów in Poland.
During their stay in Kaohsiung, the delegation visited municipal facilities, including the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying), the Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital, the Intelligent Transportation Center, and the Light Rail Transit system. Mayor Sadovyy praised Kaohsiung as a warm and welcoming city, noting that the delegation not only experienced support from their international partners during the trip but also gained a deeper understanding of Kaohsiung’s remarkable achievements in the medical, cultural, and technological fields. He expressed his hope that the renewed momentum in collaboration between Kaohsiung and Lviv would serve as a bridge for even greater exchanges between Taiwan and Ukraine.