TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung on Sunday established a sister-city relationship with Gdynia, its first partner in Poland and the city’s 43rd worldwide.

Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Luo Ta-sheng (羅達生) led a delegation to Gdynia and signed the agreement with Mayor Aleksandra Kosiorek, per CNA. The partnership calls for closer exchanges in education, culture, and trade.

Luo said Gdynia’s focus on innovation aligns with Kaohsiung’s development direction, calling the pact a new milestone in city diplomacy. Kosiorek said the long-term partnership will strengthen cooperation on smart-city initiatives.

Both cities immediately launched collaborative projects, including an economic cooperation memorandum signed at the Pomeranian Science and Technology Park Gdynia (PPNT) and an education cooperation agreement with Gdynia’s No. 17 Secondary School.

Located in northern Poland, Gdynia is known for its port and shipbuilding — much like Kaohsiung. The city serves as a major base for the Polish Navy, has been ranked Poland’s happiest city, and holds smart-city certification from the World Council on City Data.