Kaohsiung celebrates Polish sister city Gdynia's 100th anniversary and UNESCO World Heritage status

Kaohsiung is extending its international reach by celebrating a significant milestone with its sister city, Gdynia, Poland. The northern Polish port city is marking its 100th anniversary this year, a celebration amplified by the prestigious inscription of its modernist city center onto the UNESCO World Heritage list.

To honor these dual achievements, a delegation from Kaohsiung, led by officials from its Department of Administrative and International Affairs and the Bureau of Education, visited Gdynia from August 20 to 26. The delegation was personally received by Gdynia Mayor Aleksandra Kosiorek, who introduced the visitors to her city's residents. Kaohsiung established a "Taiwan Kaohsiung Special Zone" during the event, featuring iconic city imagery like the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, the Asia New Bay Area, and the Great Harbor Bridge, attracting considerable local interest.

Kaohsiung and Gdynia have been sister cities since 2025, fostering collaborations through memorandums of understanding in education, economy, and port development, including partnerships between six schools. During the recent visit, both city governments reached a preliminary consensus on specific exchange methods, such as online interactions, student visits, and homestay programs. They also aim to promote reciprocal tourism to deepen mutual understanding of each city's unique characteristics.

The Kaohsiung delegation also visited Poznan, another Polish city with which Kaohsiung has a memorandum of understanding. They met with the city government and Poznan University of Technology, a sister institution of Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, to discuss education, urban development, and sports. Further discussions were held in Gdansk regarding education, tourism reciprocity, and library and cultural cooperation, underscoring Kaohsiung's commitment to expanding its diverse partnerships with Polish cities. Zhang Yanching, Director of Kaohsiung's Department of Administrative and International Affairs, stated that the trip not only continued the existing exchange with Gdynia but also strengthened connections with Gdansk and Poznan, with plans to further broaden Taiwan-Poland city exchanges.

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This Polish trip not only continues the exchange results of Kaohsiung and Gdynia sister cities but also further deepens the connection with cities such as Gdansk and Poznan. In the future, the city government will continue to expand Taiwan-Poland city exchanges.