British Office Taipei Representative Visits Hualien, Strengthening Ties Through Warm Reception and Dialogue

(中央社訊息服務20250825 16:12:12)British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones led a delegation to Hualien from August 24 to 25. Hualien County Mayor Hsu Chen-Wei welcomed the group, joined by Legislator Fu Kun-Chi and senior county officials. To foster friendly ties, the county government hosted a dinner reception at Fullon Hotel Hualien, with members of the British community in Hualien also in attendance.

Mayor Hsu highlighted that Hualien is known not only for its stunning natural scenery and cultural diversity, but also for its commitment to international education and bilingual policies. Since 2008, the county has collaborated with Cumbria in the UK on educational exchanges that encourage students to expand their global horizons. In recent years, Hualien’s specialty agricultural products have gained increasing recognition worldwide. At the UK’s Great Taste Awards this year, several local products won major honors, underscoring that Hualien is more than a tourist destination and a fertile ground for world-class produce. The county is also advancing sustainability and smart-city projects and looks forward to deeper UK–Hualien cooperation and new opportunities ahead.

Representative Bradley-Jones said she has traveled extensively across Taiwan since taking office, with Hualien marking her eighth stop. She thanked the county for its warm hospitality. Looking ahead, she expressed hope for deeper collaboration in areas such as education, culture, sustainability, and people-to-people exchanges. She added that such efforts would further strengthen the relationship between the UK and Hualien.