President Lai Ching-te praises Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te attended a book launch for Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, titled ‘Kaohsiung, Tight Tight Tight: 2314 Days of Extreme Transformation’. During the event, Lai praised Chen’s leadership, stating that while he does not praise others easily—having previously been a ‘five-star mayor’ himself—he would rate Chen’s performance at ‘7 stars’.

Lai highlighted several key achievements in Kaohsiung’s transition from a heavy industrial hub to a technology-driven city. Notable examples included the conversion of a golf course into a natural park and the accelerated remediation of contaminated land at a former CPC refinery site, which was handed over to TSMC in just two and a half years instead of the projected 17 years. Lai also noted the development of the concert economy and the harbor area’s financial and asset management center.

Chen Chi-mai reflected on his political journey, noting that after losing the 2018 election, he approached his subsequent term with a ‘desperate’ mindset, feeling he had no way to retreat. When asked about his future political plans, Chen stated his current priority is to fulfill his responsibilities and complete his term effectively.