Baltimore County has a sister in Taiwan.
About 29 dignitaries from Taipei County, in Taiwan, visited Baltimore County on Tuesday to sign an agreement that joins the two as municipal sisters. The officials crowded into County Executive Jim Smith?s office to exchange gifts, bestow honorary citizenships and watch their own county executive, Hsi-Wei Chou, sign the partnership agreement.
The memo, written in English and Chinese, also identified representatives from each to serve as liaisons. Baltimore County Del. Adrienne Jones, county Economic Development Director David Iannucci and Towson resident Charlie Bau ? who suggested the sisterhood ? will serve the county.
“There are lots of things you can do with this,” Bau said. “We could exchange ideas, even exchange teachers. We could send English teachers and they could send Chinese.”
Officials marveled at the similarities of the two counties, presented in films and slide shows. Taipei and Baltimore counties huddle around major cities, are near commercial ports and have protected urban-rural divisions.
Both counties are throwing their weight behind public development investments and business expansion ? particularly in the biotechnology and high-tech industry.
“It?s amazing,” said county spokesman Don Mohler. “Everyone was so struck by how they are mirror images.”
Taipei county is larger than Baltimore County, with 3.7 million residents compared to Baltimore County?s 800,000. Chou, who gave Smith an abstract painting he did himself, said his county is looking for advice on spurring the tourism industry back at home.
“You could help us create more restaurants,” he said. “You?ve done a great job with that here. We love the food.”
Jones said most sister relationships are between cities or states ? rarely between counties. She said Baltimore County officials will likely visit Taipei in the near future.
