TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng (張善政) on Friday met Newark Deputy Mayor Ligia De Freitas of the US to advance cooperation in education, baseball, and smart governance.
According to the Taoyuan City Government, Chang said the three proposals are feasible and relevant departments will begin planning next steps. He added the partnership could deepen exchanges between Taoyuan and Newark across multiple areas.
On education, De Freitas proposed summer programs for Newark teachers to teach language and culture in Taoyuan, along with student exchange opportunities. Chang welcomed the idea and said the city could include Newark in its existing sister-city English exchange program.
In addition, both sides discussed youth sports, with baseball identified as a key exchange activity, Yahoo News reported. Chang noted that most schools in Taoyuan have baseball teams and expressed hope for joint training or friendly games.
On smart governance, De Freitas suggested cooperation on flood control, waste management, and related technologies. Chang said Taoyuan has strong experience in these areas and could share expertise or send personnel for exchanges.
De Freitas said she will push forward the cooperation plans after returning to the US. She also invited Chang to visit Newark on behalf of Mayor Ras Baraka to further strengthen ties.
