Ko Wen-je (柯文哲)

Taipei, Oct. 27 (CNA) Nearly 400 people participated in the opening of Oktoberfest celebrations hosted by the German Trade Office (GTO) in Taipei on Friday, with representatives of both Taiwan and Germany enjoying beer and pork knuckle to mark the occasion.

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and Martin Eberts, German representative in Taiwan, exchanged Taiwan beer and German Erdinger, as well as pork knuckles cooked in their separate styles.

Asked if the German-style pork knuckle was delicious, Ko said without any hesitation: "Of course it is."

The event kicked off with the traditional "tapping of the beerkeg," with participants, most of them employees of German companies in Taipei, indulging themselves in obatzda (a cheese dish), sausage and other Bavarian delicacies.



"In 1810 the citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the meadows in front of the majestic city gate -- now in 2017 we are standing here in front of Taipei 101, celebrating partnership, unity and cultural diversity," said GTO Executive Director Axel Limberg.

Limberg said he hoped the opening day of the event, which also marked the office's German Business Day, would not only raise cultural awareness but also enhance business exchanges between Taiwanese and German companies and trade relations between the two countries.

Germany is Taiwan's largest trade partner in Europe, with Taiwan's imports from Germany totaling NT$204.3 billion (US$6.74 billion) so far this year, according to the office.

The Oktoberfest in Taipei will take place from Friday to Nov. 12 at the Taipei 101 Fountain Plaza.

(By Lee Hsin-Yin)
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