TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture Governor Shiota Koichi led a delegation on a return visit to Taiwan’s Pingtung on Sunday.
Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi (周春米) welcomed Governor Shiota and the delegation. The county government organized activities for the group, including sampling Wanluan pork knuckles, visiting the Luo Shan Feng Art Festival, and touring Kenting Street, CNA reported.
On Sunday, a banquet in Kenting celebrated the first anniversary of signing the industry cooperation MOU. Chou said the MOU has created opportunities for collaboration in education, tourism, agriculture, and aquaculture, per the county government’s press release.
At the banquet, Kagoshima representatives invited Chou and county officials to join a traditional Kagoshima folk dance, while Pingtung’s Indigenous people performed their traditional dances.
According to the county government, the visit also included a tour of Neipu Township’s Liudui Hakka Cultural Park to explore Hakka history and culture. The delegation later visited Sijungxi Hot Springs, the Seaside Gallery, and the Pingtung Tourism Innovation Hub in Checheng Township.
Shiota said Pingtung and Kagoshima share similar geographical and industrial characteristics, boasting abundant natural resources and a rich cultural heritage. He added the delegation included not only officials from the prefectural government but also representatives from the prefectural council and the business sector.
Chou visited Kagoshima Prefecture in September 2023. The Kagoshima delegation first visited Pingtung in January, and the two places later established a sister-city relationship.
