Kitakyushu City has signed a partnership agreement with Kaohsiung City in Taiwan. According to Kitakyushu officials, Kaohsiung has a population of 2.74 million and is advancing initiatives to solve urban challenges through the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and the development of digital infrastructure. Kaohsiung is also home to ASE Technology Holding, the world's largest semiconductor backend processing company. The two cities will strengthen cooperation in the economic sector, exchange information toward the realization of smart cities, and promote mutual dissemination of tourism information.