TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iowa Wednesday (Oct. 30) to promote economic cooperation and trade relations.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds attended the ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines to sign the document, per CNA. The MOU provides the groundwork for further cooperation in the fields of science and technology, agriculture, research and development, resilient supply chains, and investment.

Taiwan and Iowa first signed a partnership agreement 35 years ago, Taiwan’s envoy in Chicago Dennis Lei (類延峰) said. The accord resulted in frequent agricultural missions to the state and in study exchanges.

Taiwan and the United States have grown ever closer, with security and trade playing a prominent role in the partnership, he said. Lei also thanked the Iowa State Legislature for passing a motion this year in support of Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.

Governor Reynolds said the state would send an agricultural delegation to Taiwan in November in order to lift the partnership to its next level. She described the MOU as a reflection of the ideals shared by Iowa and Taiwan.