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2024 New Taipei Smart City International Forum Bringing Together Cross-Border Exchange in New Taipei: AI and Sustainability as Dual Engines for Future Development


NEW TAIPEI CITY, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 June 2024 – On June 19, 2024, at the Hilton Taipei Sinban Hotel, the New Taipei City Government, in collaboration with the international organization ICF (Intelligent Community Forum), co-hosted the “2024 NTPC Smart City International Forum and ICF Top7 Global Cities Announcement.” The forum’s theme was “AI: The Innovation Accelerator,” which explored how artificial intelligence has contributed to economic growth, sustainability, and human welfare. The event attracted overseas dignitaries, representatives from consulates, and industry leaders from nearly 30 countries, fostering lively participation.

The event attracted overseas dignitaries, representatives from consulates, and industry leaders from nearly 30 countries, fostering lively participation.
The event attracted overseas dignitaries, representatives from consulates, and industry leaders from nearly 30 countries, fostering lively participation.

Deputy Mayor Chen, Chwen-Jing emphasized that this forum serves as a crucial platform for New Taipei City to showcase its achievements in smart city development and promote international communication and collaboration. Through this forum, we aim to share global public policies related to AI development and accelerate sustainable progress using AI technology. ICF Chairman and Co-founder John G. Jung, along with Co-founder Robert Bell, highlighted that as AI becomes more human-centric, sustainability and economic development are no longer parallel lines but mutually reinforcing tools.

During the forum, the Mayor of Dublin, USA, shared practical experiences in local AI applications. Dublin has received multiple recognitions as an ICF Top7 global city and has led smart city development in the Midwest America for over 15 years. Additionally, the former Mayor of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, showcased the collaboration with Queensland government in formulating a 20-year regional economic development strategy. The Mayor of Kitchener, Canada, emphasized that city development strategies should revolve around technology and innovation. The President of the Institute of Research and Urban Planning in Maceió, Brazil, highlighted how AI’s robust data collection efficiency can provide solutions for digital transformation and sustainable development. The Founder and CEO of BABLE Smart Cities in Germany explained how European cities are leveraging AI to address challenges posed by pollution and population density.

In the first panel discussion, the Director of Economic Development from Dublin, USA; the Economy, Innovation, and Employment Councilor from Las Rozas, Spain; the CEO of ICF Institute in Taiwan; and Deputy Magistrate Hsieh Shu-Ya from Yunlin County shared insights on applying AI to create carbon reduction systems, develop smart industries, and address sustainability challenges faced by cities. Professor Lin Feng-Tyan from the Department of Urban Planning at National Cheng Kung University, along with representatives from Far EasTone Telecommunications, LUXGEN Motor, ASUS, and Delta Electronics, demonstrated how AI is being used to introduce smart green energy on campuses, establish connected vehicle networks, and enhance building operational efficiency. Outside the forum venue, ten companies showcased Taiwan’s leadership in software development, system integration, and hardware technology.

The 2024 ICF Top7 Global Cities Announcement Dinner, hosted by Deputy Mayor Chen, Chwen-Jing and Director Leu, Jang-Hwa from the Administration for Digital Industries, Ministry of Digital Affairs, welcomed attendees. The list of cities that made it to the ICF Top7 this year was announced by ICF.

The Top7 of 2024

  • Assaí, Paraná, Brazil
  • Coral Gables, Florida, USA
  • Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
  • Durham Region, Ontario, Canada
  • Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
  • Hilliard, Ohio, USA
  • Yunlin County, Taiwan

The forum gathered overseas dignitaries, consulate representatives, and industry leaders from 30 countries.

In the 2024 ICF Top7 Global Cities Announcement Dinner, Deputy Mayor of New Taipei City, Chen Chwen-Jing, representatives of ICF, and Director Leu Jang-Hwa, Administration of Digital Industry, and representative of Las Rozas, Spain, who will be hosting the 2025 ICF Top7 raised their glasses to celebrate the commencement of the Announcement.Hashtag: #NewTaipeiSmartCityInternationalForum

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Laos Extends Visa Exemptions to Boost Visit Laos Year 2024

Tourists in Kuangsi Waterfall in Luang Prabang. (Photo: Laotian Times)

ARTICLE UPDATED ON 27 JUNE, 2024 AT 4:04 PM

To bolster tourism in the second half of Visit Laos Year 2024, the Lao government is set to introduce a new policy granting free visas to Chinese visitors, announced Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Darany Phommavongsa, on 24 June.

ASEAN Countries Eye BRICS Membership Amid Geopolitical Shifts

(Photo: NOUR NEWS)

To align more closely with global geopolitical dynamics, many Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have expressed growing interest in joining the BRICS group, an economic bloc consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Laos Begins Comprehensive Review of 2015 Constitution for Major Amendments

Laos Begins Comprehensive Review of 2015 Constitution for Major Amendments
Xaysomphone Phomvihane, President of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee and the National Committee for the Amendment of the Constitution (photo credit: Vientiane Times)

The National Committee for the Amendment of the Constitution commenced the review process of the 2015 Constitution on 20 June to make necessary revisions in line with Laos’s changing economic and social circumstances.

Dengue Fever Education Sessions Boost Awareness in Two Xaysomboun Villages

Phu Bia Mining Company and local participants during the session in Ban Nam Gnone healthcare centre

Local communities in Nam Mo and Nam Gnone, Xaysomboun Province, should now be better prepared to fight Dengue Fever thanks to recent education sessions held by Phu Bia Mining Co. Ltd from 17 to 18 June. These sessions aimed to spread awareness about the disease and its prevention. 

Discovery Taiwan And TaiwanPlus Presents A Three-part Series, Taiwan Spirit

Dive into the vibrant world of ‘Taiwan Spirit’, where the essence of Taiwan shines through the arenas of Table Tennis, Taekwondo, and Cycling


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 June 2024 – Discovery Network and TaiwanPlus, a publicly funded media platform focusing on news and entertainment in Taiwan, will collaborate for a second year to produce a three-part series, Taiwan Spirit, highlighting Taiwan’s rich sports culture. Through this partnership, TaiwanPlus aims to bring Taiwan’s unique stories and spirit to a global audience.

Taiwan Spirit focuses on individual stories and the battle to succeed internationally, highlighting the hardships and victories of Table Tennis athletes Lin Yun-Ju and Chen Szu-Yu in episode one, Olympic taekwondo bronze medalist Lo Chia-Ling in episode two and the thriving bicycle industry in episode three.

The series provides an intimate look at the immense pressure Lin and Chen face in Taiwan. It also delves into the sacrifices made by Lo to secure her place in the Paris Games in 2024. This series draws on the emotions of these athletes’ raw narratives without breaking their promises.

Through the stories of Lin Yun-Ju, Chen Szu-Yu, and Lo Chia-Ling, we see the same willpower that drives Taiwan’s innovation in industries like its world-leading bicycle sector.

In addition to manufacturing top-quality goods, Taiwan’s bicycle industry is leading the fight against climate change through programs such as the Bicycling Alliance for Sustainability (BAS), which promotes sustainability through various methods, such as upcycling waste plastics into functional bicycle accessories or integrating smart technology in manufacturing plants.

Don’t miss this exploration of Taiwan’s persevering spirit on Taiwan Spirit, premiering on July 7 at 6:15 pm SGT on Discovery Channel in Southeast Asia and July 11th at 9 pm SGT on Discovery Asia Channel. The series will also be made available on TaiwanPlus starting mid-August.

Note to Editors
Watch highlights here
Download official stills here
Hashtag: #Discoveryinc #TvProgramme #TaiwanPlus #TaiwanSpirit

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 88.3 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 224 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world.

About TaiwanPlus

Based in a thriving democracy at the heart of the most dynamic and fastest-growing region on earth, we are the first and only English language, global news and entertainment media platform from Taiwan. TaiwanPlus delivers independent and impartial daily news by international journalists focused on global and local events, bringing you the stories from Taiwan that will resonate across the world. With our unique position in geopolitics and international trade, TaiwanPlus also provides an inside look at Taiwan-China relations with in-depth reporting and analysis. We showcase Taiwan’s uniqueness in culture and lifestyle—as well as the best from Taiwan’s food, travel, music, and entertainment—and what binds us together as part of a global community.TaiwanPlus produces three daily newscasts 5 days a week, develops long and short form features, curates movies and other entertainment programming, creates engaging social media content and much more. Wherever you are, on whatever device, TaiwanPlus delivers world-class content from Taiwan’s perspective.

For more information, visit or follow us on social media via @taiwanplus.

Lao Communities in United States Observes Two Lao Festivals in June

Lao Communities in United States Observes Two Lao Festivals in June
A concert at Sabaidee Fest at Prado Regional Park in Chino, California (photo: Hella Chluy)

In June, the Lao community in the United States celebrated two major Lao-related events: Sabaidee Fest from 14 to 16 June and the Lao Food Festival on 22-23 June.

From Repair to Recycling: How Laos, Singapore Combat E-Waste

From Repair to Recycling: How Laos, Singapore Combat E-Waste
Coach Krish (standing, right) and other volunteers work together to solve a participant’s jammed fan at Repair Kopitiam at an upskilling class at Our Tampines Hub in eastern Singapore. (photo: Singapore Magazine SIF)

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is a rapidly escalating environmental concern in Southeast Asia (SEA). As the region undergoes prolonged development and modernization, the demand for electronic devices and gadgets — such as smartphones, laptops, and household appliances — has surged to unparalleled levels. Despite the persistence of this issue, some countries in the region, including Laos and Singapore, have made efforts to curb and reduce electronic waste within their borders.