Yuli Township, Hualien, and Toya-ko Town, Hokkaido, Sign Friendship Exchange Agreement

The Yuli Township Office in Hualien, Taiwan, and Toya-ko Town in Hokkaido, Japan, held a virtual signing ceremony for a friendship exchange agreement. Township Mayor Gong Wen-jun and Town Mayor Shitomichi Hideaki signed on behalf of their respective communities, initiating cross-border collaboration in tourism, culture, agriculture, and local revitalization.

In addition to Toya-ko Town Mayor Shitomichi Hideaki, the signing ceremony was witnessed online by Town Assembly Speaker Chiba Kaoru, Representative Lee Yi-yang from the Taipei Representative Office in Japan, Director Nien Hsin-shih from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Sapporo, and Director Chen Chun-lang from the Eastern Regional Service Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mayor Gong stated, "Although we are separated by thousands of miles, sincere friendship transcends distance. This agreement marks a significant starting point for long-term cooperation." He expressed gratitude, on behalf of all Yuli residents, to Toya-ko Town and all parties involved in facilitating the exchange, emphasizing the establishment of a valuable and profound partnership.

Gong noted that Yuli Township is located in southern Hualien County and is a key town in the Huadong Valley, surrounded by the Central and Coastal Mountain Ranges. It boasts rich natural landscapes and high-quality agricultural conditions nurtured by the Xiuguluan River. Every summer, the blooming daylilies on Chike Mountain attract numerous tourists. Local specialties such as Yuli rice, cherry duck, and daylily dishes highlight the township’s strong integration of agriculture and tourism, making it a happy community rich in nature, ecology, culture, and industry.

Toya-ko Town, home to the world-renowned Lake Toya, possesses abundant tourism resources and has achieved remarkable success in environmental conservation, regional revitalization, and sustainable development, earning consistent international recognition. Mayor Gong emphasized that both regions share common values in environmental protection, cultural preservation, and local industry development, forming a solid foundation for collaboration.

The Yuli Township Office stated that this agreement goes beyond establishing a sister-city relationship. It aims to foster continuous exchanges in tourism promotion, agricultural technology, regional revitalization, sustainability, and cultural education. Through mutual visits, experience sharing, and resource linkage, both sides seek to enhance local competitiveness and achieve mutually beneficial development.

Mayor Gong invited residents of Toya-ko Town to visit Yuli, experience the flower fields of Chike Mountain, enjoy the natural beauty of the Huadong Valley, and savor local cuisine, embracing the warmth and hospitality of Yuli. He also expressed hopes to lead a delegation to Toya-ko Town in the future, deepening multi-level cooperation between governments and civil societies, and ensuring the friendship between the two regions grows stronger over time.

The Yuli Township Office affirmed its commitment to expanding international municipal exchanges, building partnerships with overseas sister cities, introducing diverse governance models and tourism development strategies, enhancing Yuli’s global visibility, promoting industrial upgrading, and building a happier, more internationally oriented, and sustainably developed township.