Puli and Izumi Celebrate 9th Anniversary of Sister City Ties with Flower Donation

Puli Township in Nantou County and Izumi City in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, held a 9th-anniversary ceremony for their sister city relationship and a donation ceremony for the Crown of Thorns flower in Izumi today. The Puli Township Office stated that despite distance and the pandemic, they have maintained contact, demonstrating a deep bond. Puli and Izumi became sister cities in 2017. To celebrate the 9th anniversary, Puli Mayor Liao Chih-cheng led a delegation to Japan. Izumi Mayor Shinichi Shiiki and others attended the ceremony. Liao stated that they have expanded exchanges from official levels to private, educational, industrial, and youth levels, and will continue to deepen cooperation. The Crown of Thorns flowers donated this time were jointly developed by Puli's Yang Sheng Horticulture and Professor Chu Chien-yung of the Department of Horticulture at National Chung Hsing University. Using embryo culture technology, they improved the traditional thorny image, creating a variety that is thornless or has soft thorns, is easy to manage, weather-resistant, water-saving, and disease-resistant, fitting modern environmental trends. Liao mentioned their multi-faceted exchanges, including participation in industrial festivals, online English exchanges, and student visits. Additionally, Zhushan Township held the 'Zhushan International Tea Ceremony Festival,' with groups from Komono Town, Mie Prefecture, visiting, further promoting tourism and cultural exchange.