Ms. Li Hanwen, who recently stepped down from her position as a Taiwan Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commissioner and is currently serving as a Taiwan Overseas Compatriot Affairs Advisory Commissioner, was elected this week as the chairwoman of the sister county committees of Santa Clara County and Hsinchu County.
Santa Clara County, located in Silicon Valley, is not only a global hub for high technology but also the most populous county in Northern California. Hsinchu County, on the other hand, is a high-tech industry center in northern Taiwan. The sister county relationship between the two counties has a history of 32 years.
Ms. Li Hanwen has been a member of the sister county committees of Santa Clara and Hsinchu for 8 years. Prior to becoming the chairwoman of the committee, she served as the vice chairwoman.
She stated that she is committed to promoting exchanges and progress in local relations between Taiwan and the United States, fostering mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.
According to Ms. Li Hanwen, based on the annual plan passed by the Santa Clara County Council, she will arrange for a delegation from the Hsinchu County government and council to visit Santa Clara County in the second half of the year. Subsequently, she will assist officials and council members from Santa Clara County in visiting Hsinchu.
She mentioned that during the visit, she will not only arrange for the delegation from Hsinchu to tour major American high-tech companies in Silicon Valley and visit schools of all levels in California, but also treat them to authentic American steaks and burgers. Additionally, she plans to organize a Taiwan food exhibition at the Santa Clara County Government Building, allowing county officials to savor authentic Taiwanese delicacies.
She also revealed that during the visit of the delegation from Hsinchu to Santa Clara, the two counties will introduce each other’s economic and technological development status to enhance mutual understanding and explore opportunities for cooperation.
Ms. Li Hanwen introduced the current sister county committee of Santa Clara and Hsinchu, which includes members from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, Guangdong, and other countries and ethnicities. The members are directly appointed by the county Supervisors elected from various districts, and the chairperson of the committee is elected and serves a one-year term with the possibility of reelection.
She encouraged the Taiwanese community in California to actively participate in exchange activities between mainstream American society and Taiwan. Those interested can find relevant information on the website of the county Supervisor in their respective districts. If any vacancies appear in the sister county committee of Santa Clara-Hsinchu in their district, they can apply to become candidates for committee members.
She believes that Taiwanese Americans in the United States should not only care about Taiwan but also about mainstream American society and the communities where they live.