- Contact Person: Fan Ai-ping, Tourism Promotion Section
- Telephone: 037-352961 ext. 416
- Publication Date: 16:33, May 8, 2025
County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin and County Council Speaker Lee Wen-pin led a delegation of county government officials and council members on an exchange visit to Nagano Prefecture, Japan, from May 7th to May 11th. In the afternoon (May 8th), they visited the Nagano Prefectural Government Office, where they were received by Nagano Governor Moriichi Abe and his delegation of ranking executives. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on tourism promotion, cultural exchange, and local governance, which opened up a new phase of cooperation between Taiwan and Japan.
The Miaoli County Government stated that Nagano Prefecture boasts internationally recognized achievements in terms of environmental protection, tourism brand management, and local revitalization. Miaoli County, reputed for its mountain and sea resources and Hakka culture, is actively developing sustainable tourism and local industries. This visit was not only an exchange of experiences but also an important step in connecting both sides in sustainable development and the internationalization of tourism, with the potential for deeper cooperation in tourism marketing, cultural exchanges, and supply chain integration.
The exchange also conveyed Miaoli's unique characteristics and values through cultural gifts. Magistrate Chung Tung-chin presented Miaoli County with handicrafts made from recycled glass, highlighting the spirit of resource recycle and environmental sustainability. He also gifted Miaoli Black Tea, a high-quality local agricultural product from Miaoli, showcasing local customs and craftsmanship, and a shimenawa (a type of prayer rope), symbolizing good fortune and purity, to represent protection and blessings. All the gifts featured a blend of sustainability concepts and cultural imagery, likened to the solid friendship and long-term development between the two sides.
In line with international tourism development plans, Miaoli County will host the Taiwan Lantern Festival in 2027. Magistrate Chung formally invited Nagano Prefecture to participate in the international lantern zone, hoping to promote cultural exchange through lantern art performance, boost bilateral tourism markets through innovative displays, and enhance the city's international visibility. Governor Abe expressed his gratitude for the invitation, stating that he would have the relevant departments explore how to make this feasible. The governor also pledged to make time to visit Miaoli in the future to further promote the development of tourism, agriculture, and other industries.
The Miaoli County Government indicated that this trip not only deepened mutual trust and connections between the local governments of Taiwan and Japan, but also laid the foundation for a long-term cooperation mechanism. The county government will continue to promote international exchange strategies, combining tourism, culture, and industrial development to actively expand overseas markets and turn Miaoli into an internationally competitive tourism city.