Mayor John Branch of the English town of Harrow visited Yunlin County in central Taiwan yesterday, where he met with county government officials and students at a high school and a technology college.
Branch first went to Cheng Shin Junior High School to take part in a seminar with student representatives. He said he was deeply impressed by the uniformed students and their educated manners.
Branch later paid a visit to the Yunlin county government and was warmly greeted by Deputy County Magistrate Chang Ching-liang and other county officials.
Chang briefed Branch on Yunlin's trade and cultural development, while Branch suggested that Chang could promote tourism by selling Taiwan's chief attractions -- its scenery and culture -- to the international community and by improving the English-speaking abilities of Taiwan's public.
He also visited the Transworld Institute of Technology, which maintains close cooperation with various Harrow-based English-teaching institutions. Branch discussed educational and cultural exchanges with Transworld President Peng Tso-kwei and expressed his admiration for Taiwan's booming educational development. He also called for enhanced bilateral activities.
Branch also visited Taipei, Tainan and Alishan, a famous tourist spot in southern Chiayi County. He is slated to leave Taiwan today.
Harrow, located 20km northwest of London, has a population of 220,000, over 70 percent of whom work in London.
As an important center for education and culture, the town spends a large portion of its annual budget of ?120 million on educational and cultural affairs.
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