Hsinchu County and Ipswich Renew Sister Cities Agreement
Hsinchu County Government recently renewed its Sister City Agreement with the Government of Ipswich in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, 21 years after the two have become sister cities in 1994. During last year’s visit to Taiwan, Mayor Paul Pisasale of Ipswich suggested that the two cities sign a sister cities agreement again. Deeply moved by the devotion of Mayor Pisasale, Magistrate Chiu Ching-Chun, Zhang Zhen-Rong, the Speaker of Hsinchu County Council, and over 40 other delegates visited Ipswich this June. Mayor Pisasale, in red Australian traditional clothes, took them on a tour of the city. Magistrate Chiu was very touched when he saw the national flag of Taiwan waving in the front of Ipswich City Hall. The two governments signed a new Memorandum of Understanding at the end of the tour. The agreement would result in the two cities working together in education, culture, investment, agriculture, tourism, etc. It is expected to strengthen the relationship between the two cities. In addition, starting from next year, the two cities will take turns holding the international exchange meeting each year. Hsinchu County also invited Mayor Pisasale and Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dancers to 2015 Taiwan International Festival of Hakka Culture and to experience great landscapes and unique culture of Hsinchu County.
Ipswich City is located in the Southeast of Queensland State, Australia, situated on the Bremer River. It is often referred as “the Cradle of Coal Mining in Queensland”. It was a limestone quarry town as well as a mining center particularly for coal mining. With other secondary industries included earthenware works, sawmills, abattoirs foundries, and rich agriculture, it grew rapidly into a major inland port. The early development path of Ipswich City resembles that of Hsinchu County – early success in mining industry and forestry industry. This offers a great opportunity for collaboration between the two cities.