TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene led a delegation to meet Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) on Tuesday, with both sides exchanging views on economic and trade cooperation, cultural exchange, industrial development, and urban planning, according to a Taichung City Government press release.
Lu thanked Greene and his team for their long-term support, noting that Taichung’s nine major industries maintain a strong presence in the US market. She said the city is a global hub for bicycles and precision manufacturing.
The mayor highlighted plans for the Taichung International Convention Center, scheduled to open in the first half of next year. She said it will be the largest and most advanced convention and exhibition venue in Taiwan, positioning central Taiwan as an international hub. Lu invited Greene and American businesses to attend exhibitions and take part in the center’s opening ceremony.
Lu also briefed Greene on major construction projects nearing completion, including the Taichung Green Museumbrary — the city’s first cultural complex combining an art museum and a library — and a new recreational area centered around the former US Combined Logistics Command Guest House, also known as the American Officers’ Club.
She noted the city’s long-standing ties with the US, citing Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, once the second-largest US Air Force base in the Far East. Many historical buildings associated with the base have since been preserved or revitalized as tourist attractions, she added.
Lu presented Greene with an English-language copy of “Echoing Footsteps of the American Military Presence in Taiwan: Taichung in the 1960s,” published by the Taichung Cultural Affairs Bureau, and encouraged him to share it with American colleagues.
Following the meeting, Lu gifted Greene award-winning whiskey from Taichung’s Daan District and premium sake from the Wufeng Farmers’ Association, both of which have received international honors.
According to the city government, Greene also visited the Central Taiwan Agriculture Expo during his trip. The city noted it has hosted multiple AIT officials in recent years, including former AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk.
