At today's Cabinet meeting, the first attended by the newly elected special municipality mayors, Premier Mao Chi-kuo pledged assistance for a number of Taichung City projects.
Taichung City Mayor Lin Chia-lung had requested that the Executive Yuan support Taichung City's hosting of the 2019 East Asian Youth Games and the 2018 Taichung International Garden and Horticulture Exposition. He had also requested assistance with development of the city's transportation infrastructure.
Premier Mao pointed out that Taichung's hosting of the East Asian Youth Games will help raise the nation's international exposure. He thus asked the Ministry of Education and other related agencies to help the city government with all measures necessary to successfully organize this grand athletic event.
The 2018 Taichung International Garden and Horticulture Exposition will be quite different from the 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition, the premier noted. He thus asked the Taichung City Government to finalize its implementation plan as soon as possible and to collaborate with the Council of Agriculture (COA) and other related agencies. COA Minister Chen Bao-ji explained relevant timetables.
The premier further instructed that transportation plans that have been approved or are in the execution phase be carried out as planned. He expects related agencies to provide assistance to the "mountain" and "seaside" circular lines, which are of particular concern to Mayor Lin. Once the ongoing viability assessments for these lines are completed, the plans will formally advance to the implementation process.
The premier thanked all the mayors for taking time to attend the Cabinet meeting and hopes the central and local governments will strengthen their communication. Mao also asked the mayors to present any future plans of a grand scale to the Executive Yuan for deliberation as soon as possible.