On 5 September the Executive Bureau Meeting, General Assembly and Council Meeting of the fifth UCLG ASPAC Congress took place at the Regent Hotel Taipei. Hee-ryong Won, Governor of South Korea’s Jeju Province, was elected as UCLG ASPAC President for the 2014¬–2016 term, and Taipei City, as host of this year’s Congress, became ex officio co-president for this period while continuing to be the representative for Council and representative for Executive Bureau. The 6th UCLG ASPAC Congress will be held in South Korea’s North Jeolla Province.

United Cities and Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC), of which Taipei is a member, is the largest local government organization in the world and the biggest of the eight sections of UCLG. This year’s congress was attended by 84 representatives from 24 member cities and 3 partners.

The farewell dinner was held the same day. Both Deputy Mayor of Taipei Tim T.Y. Ting and President-elect of the UCLG ASPAC Hee-ryong Won gave a speech to thank other cities for their support for Taipei. To close the three-day congress, Taipei City Government has arranged a study tour on 6 September so that guests can explore Taipei culture and examine the city’s environmental efforts. Teima Onorio, Vice President of the Republic of Kiribati, opted for the cultural itinerary, which will include a visit to the popular Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. Those who chose the “green route” visited the Beitou Incineration Plant and Beitou Library.