File #: 2014-0390    Version: 1
Type: Motion Status: Passed
File created: 9/15/2014 In control: Committee of the Whole
On agenda: Final action: 9/22/2014
Enactment date: Enactment #: 14234
Title: A MOTION calling to strengthen the relationship between the municipality of Kaohsiung and King County.
Sponsors: Jane Hague, Kathy Lambert, Pete von Reichbauer, Rod Dembowski, Dave Upthegrove
Attachments: 1. Motion 14234.pdf, 2. Staff Report Proposed Motion 2014-0390 TECO.doc
Staff: Soo Hoo, Wendy
Drafter
Clerk 09/16/2014
Title
A MOTION calling to strengthen the relationship between the municipality of Kaohsiung and King County.
Body
      WHEREAS, King County aims to build lasting partnerships with diverse communities to establish mutual, healthy economies and environments where all people and businesses have the opportunity to thrive, and
      WHEREAS, the Pacific Northwest is an important gateway to Taiwan, China and other international entities, and
      WHEREAS, Taiwan is Washington's eighteenth largest export market, and
      WHEREAS, a significant number of King County residents are of Taiwanese origin and play an important role in promoting trade and cultural relations between King County and Taiwan, and
      WHEREAS, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office ("TECO") in Seattle was founded to promote and strengthen the economic and cultural ties between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan), and
      WHEREAS, King County formerly recognized Kaohsiung as a sister county and celebrated this relationship through trade missions and other mutually-beneficial economic partnerships, and
      WHEREAS, Kaohsiung county has now been merged with the city of Kaohsiung as a combined city-county municipality, and
      WHEREAS, in partnership with TECO, King County and the municipality of Kaohsiung wish to deepen their vibrant sister government relationship, and
      WHEREAS, organizations like TECO foster tourism and economic development to our region, and
      WHEREAS, the Pacific Northwest region exports large quantities of cherries, apples, local wine and wheat to the Republic of China (Taiwan), and
      WHEREAS, in August 2014, the state of Washington and Taiwan signed a new driver license reciprocity agreement enabling drivers to more easily transfer a license from one place to the other, which may be an incentive for people from Taiwan to invest, work and study in Washington state and for people from Washington to invest, work and study in Taiwan,
      NOW THEREFORE BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
      King County will strengthen its relationship with the municipality of Kaohsiung by seeking new opportunities for international partnerships.