Taichung City Government is endeavoring to promote the export of its specialty agricultural products. Mayor Lin Chia-lung signed the MOU on agricultural cooperation with Nicolas Floch, the mayor of Saint-Pol-de-Léon, the premier center of agriculture and horticulture France. In the future, both parties will cooperate to promote the import and export of produce, flowers, and gardening products. It is planned that 100 tons of specialty agricultural products will be dispatched simultaneously by charter flight every week to promote agricultural development in both cities. Mayor Lin expected to promote friendship between Taiwan and France. Meanwhile, Nicolas Floch, the mayor of Saint-Pol-de-Léon expressed that in addition to participating in 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition, he also promised to take part in the 2020 World Orchid Conference and exhibition to provide more opportunities for the exchange between the two countries.

Saint-Pol-de-Léon, France at the west of France and the north of Brittany. With mild weather and plenty of rainfall, its soil is fertile, making it the premier city of agriculture and horticulture in France. On the 3rd, Nicolas Floch, the mayor of Saint-Pol-de-Léon led Jean-Francois Jacob, the president of SICA de Saint-Pol-de-Léon to visit Mayor Lin in Taichung City Government. The mayors of both cities signed the MOU for agricultural cooperation to establish the channels for further exchange in agriculture, horticulture, gardening, technicians, and professional talents between the two cities.

Guests, including Deputy Mayor Chang Kuang-yao, Secretary General Li Ru-fang, Anne Rulliat, Director of Le Francais a Taiwan, Christoph Lai, Directeur, Service Economique et Commercial, Bureau de Représentation de Taipei en France, and Father Liu Yi-feng, Catholic Church, Yuli, Hualien County, attended to witness the moment.

Mayor Lin expressed his warm welcome to the arrival of Nicolas Floch, the mayor of Saint-Pol-de-Léon, and other. The signing of MOU between the two cities signified the development of new relations between Taiwan and France. He believed that through agricultural cooperation, it is possible to further Taiwan-France relationship and build up the bridge of friendship.

Mayor Lin pointed out that the population of Saint-Pol-de-Léon is less than 10 thousand, with the area of 23km2. Nevertheless, it is the foremost center of agriculture and horticulture in France. Its SICA markets its produce with the brand of Prince de Bretagne, earning the impressive annual sales of 620 million Euro. He intends to visit the city himself in the future to learn from them.

And Taichung is also famous for its fruits, flowers, and other produce. It is hoped that by the signing of MOU for agricultural cooperation, both cities will dispatch 100 tons of produce simultaneously between the two cities by charter flight, marking Taichung specialty agricultural products to France, Europe, and even in the international market.

Saint-Pol-de-Léon, France will participate in the exhibition at the World Garden Area and Indoor Floriculture Area in 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition. By then, there will be cultural groups coming to perform in Taichung. Mayor Lin welcomed the participation of Saint-Pol-de-Leon and also invited it to take part in the 2020 World Orchid Conference and exhibition, to further promote the mutual relations between Taiwan and France.

Nicolas Floch, the Mayor of Saint-Pol-de-Léon expressed that Taichung has a rich production of flowers, vegetables, and water products. There will be plenty room for mutual cooperation in the future. Although Saint-Pol-de-Léon is a very city in France, it is a foremost city in agriculture and horticulture. Participating in the Taichung World Flora Exposition, it takes pleasure to share its experience in flowers and vegetables. As the weather in Taichung and France is complementary, by signing the MOU, they can export produce simultaneously during storm seasons when the production of vegetables is low to solve the problem of inadequate production.