“Hualien, My Home” Hualien County Government Invites International Friends to Traverse the Valley

(中央社訊息服務20231027 09:00:00)To encourage foreigners living in Hualien to gain a deeper understanding of the region, the Hualien County Government is organizing a series of events entitled “Hualien, My Home. Exploring, Experiencing and Sharing with Global Citizens in Hualien” in Zhuoxi and Shoufeng on October 29th (Sunday) and November 4th (Saturday), respectively. International residents in Hualien are cordially invited to travel through the valley and discover the charm of Hualien’s local culture and customs. The event aims to promote cross-cultural dialogue and understanding, and to reflect on and improve the direction of making Hualien a more livable and attractive city for migrants.

Hualien is home to a diverse population, including ethnic groups such as Hoklo, Hakka, Mainlanders, and indigenous tribes such as the Pangcah, Truku, Sakizaya, Kavalan, Bunun, and Seediq. Over the centuries, the cultural characteristics of these groups have harmoniously blended and become rooted in this land. This rich tapestry of diverse and distinctive cultures has attracted many international tourists and immigrants to Hualien. According to statistics from the Ministry of the Interior National Immigration Agency in May 2023, nearly 6,715 foreign nationals from approximately 80 countries reside in Hualien. The incorporation of new immigrants continues to enrich the cultural fabric of Hualien.

In 2023, County Mayor Hsu Chen-Wei envisioned “Hualien goes global and the world comes to Hualien”. In the post-pandemic era, the goal is to gradually transform Hualien into an international-friendly city through measures such as tourism, cultural exchanges, and smart city initiatives. To gather opinions from all sides, the Hualien County Government has initiated this exchange event, hoping to understand the experiences and challenges faced by international friends in tourism, residence, work, and daily life.

The activities are themed “Into the Mountains and Tribes, Listening to the Voices of the Rift Valley” and “Into the Countryside, Resonating with the Sound of the Land “. The events will host 30 international friends who will visit cultural museums, organic farms, aquaculture industries, and indigenous tribes. Through cultural trips, environmental education, and culinary experiences, the participants will immerse themselves in the essence of Hualien. The “World Café” discussion format will be used throughout the event, encouraging participants to share diverse perspectives on the issues of “Livability/Migration”. The collected insights aim to inform future policy decisions and collective efforts to create a high-quality, international-friendly living environment.

The whole event is free of charge. Foreign residents in Hualien are welcome to attend. For more details, please contact Ms. Hsu at 0910-291510 or Ms. Han at 0956-885373. The registration link is https://forms.gle/Nvu3Y1R6hhphxhYXA.