Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) departed for Japan today to focus on city diplomacy and study Japan's domed stadiums to help accelerate the construction of Taichung's own large-scale multi-purpose dome.
Speaking to reporters before her departure, Lu emphasized Japan's significance as a key partner for Taiwan and Taichung.
The six-day trip marks her first visit to Japan since taking office six years ago.
Photo courtesy of the Taichung City Government
It is to include stops in Sapporo, Nagoya and Tokyo, with four days dedicated to official engagements, Lu said.
Another key focus is to learn from Japan's domed stadiums, Lu said, adding that her delegation would visit four of them and study their different functions, operational models and financial strategies.
Construction of Taichung Arena is currently underway, while the city plans to build yet another domed stadium capable of hosting baseball games and large-scale international performances, she said.
Asked whether the trip was meant to pave the way for a nomination in the 2028 presidential election, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) mayor urged the public not to make too many associations.
City-to-city diplomacy is a key task for local leaders, she said, adding that she is one of the few leaders of the nation’s biggest cities who has not yet visited Japan.
Additional reporting by Su Meng-chuan
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