Pingtung County Magistrate Chun-Mi Chou visits Kagoshima Prefectural Office and invites participation in Citizens Sports Games next year

PINGTUNG, Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 14^th 2023, Pingtung County Magistrate Chun-Mi Chou and her delegation arrived in Kyushu, Japan to visit the Kagoshima Prefectural Office. They were warmly welcomed by the Governor Koichi Shiota, and both sides expressed their hopes for further collaboration in culture, tourism, education and industry. Kagoshima will host the National Sports Festival of Japan in this October and has extended an invitation to Pingtung to attend the booth exhibition. Magistrate Chou also warmly invited Kagoshima to join the Citizens Sports Games hosted by Pingtung in next October.

Pingtung County started to develop friendship with Kagoshima through the donation of anti-pandemic materials during the Covid-19 pandemic. Kagoshima Prefectural Office has sent representatives to participate in several events hosted by Pingtung County Government since 2021; for example, 2022 Pingtung Christmas Festival, 2023 Pingtung-Japan Friendship Festival. After the pandemic restrictions were lifted, this May, with the assistance from Fukuoka Branch, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Osaka, Ligang Township and Soo city of Kagoshima Prefecture signed a memorandum of international exchange. Also, in June, National Tungkang Maritime & Fishery Vocational High School visited Kagoshima Fisheries High School to expand international perspectives.

Magistrate Chou stated that the interactions between Pingtung and Kagoshima, whether between county offices or in terms of cultural and local exchanges, have become increasingly close. Since taking office as Pingtung County Magistrate, she has expected to make an official visit to Kagoshima, and explore the city's rich history and culture. Kagoshima is the second-largest agricultural producer in Japan and ranks first in the Kyushu region, with a flourishing tourism industry. Magistrate Chou expressed a sense of kinship, stating that "the overall environment and development are very similar to Pingtung!"

Magistrate Chou also mentioned that Pingtung, located at the southern tip of Taiwan, boasts abundant natural resources, unique cultural and geographical characteristics. It attracts many domestic and international tourists every year. In recent years, Pingtung has devoted great effort to large-scale construction, industrial development, green environmental protection industries, elderly care and encouraging youth engagement in regional revitalization. Through this visit, Magistrate Chou hopes that they can share Pingtung's urban experiences and foster closer friendship and cooperation with Kagoshima.