By KHT Staff. Images via Pingtung County Govt.
PINGTUNG — Pingtung County (屏東縣) and Broward County in Florida signed a sister-city agreement on Wednesday, marking a new local-level partnership between Taiwan and the United States, the Pingtung County Government said.
The agreement was signed by Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi (周春米) and Broward County Mayor Mark D. Bogen at the Pingtung County Government. Samuel Goffman, Deputy Branch Chief of the American Institute in Taiwan (美國在台協會) Kaohsiung Branch, witnessed the signing.
The county government said the partnership will focus on trade, education, tourism, healthcare, culture, sustainable development, and climate resilience.
Chou said the agreement marks a new milestone in Pingtung’s international outreach. She said the two counties share similarities, including strong coastal identities, natural resources, and an interest in technology, industrial development, and democratic values.
Broward County, near the Miami metropolitan area, is Florida’s second-most populous county and has a 37-kilometer coastline. Pingtung, at Taiwan’s southern tip, has extensive mountain and marine resources, including Taiwan’s only coral reef island, Chou said.
She said Pingtung hopes the agreement will create more opportunities for youth and student exchanges while introducing the county to a wider international audience.
Bogen said Broward County is home to residents from more than 150 countries, with more than 100 languages spoken there. He said the agreement could become a starting point for economic and cultural exchanges, including cooperation involving small and medium-sized enterprises and nongovernmental organizations.
Goffman said the agreement reflects the continued growth of Taiwan-US ties at the local level.
The county government said Broward County has about 2 million residents and major industries including healthcare, life sciences, education, tourism, technology innovation, and construction.
