U.K. representative attends Dragon Boat Festival event on CGA vessel

Kaohsiung, June 18 (CNA) The head of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) recently welcomed United Kingdom Representative to Taiwan Ruth Bradley-Jones aboard a Coast Guard Administration (CGA) vessel for cultural activities ahead of the Dragon Boat Festival.

The event, held aboard the CGA's 4,000-ton Yunlin patrol vessel on May 29, was also attended by Natasha Harrington, director of political and communications at the British Office Taipei.

In her welcoming remarks, OAC Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said the Dragon Boat Festival tradition reflects values of unity and noted that some equipment aboard Taiwan's coast guard vessels comes from British brands.

During the event, the two British officials made zongzi, glutinous rice dumplings traditionally eaten during the festival, and crafting scented sachets.

"As two islands, we all have a huge love of, and a huge dependence on the sea. So, it's great to come together here on this boat," Bradley-Jones said.

Speaking about bilateral ties, she likened the sticky texture of zongzi's glutinous rice to the growing closeness of Taiwan-U.K. relations. Citing the saying, "Friends who eat together stay together," she said the two sides have built a strong partnership through shared values including maintaining peace and protecting the oceans.

Bradley-Jones later joined in making scented sachets, which Kuan said symbolize peace and good health and reflect the coast guard personnel's year-round mission of safeguarding Taiwan's waters and keeping the public safe.

The event concluded with an exchange of gifts, with both sides offering items carrying symbolic meaning and holiday wishes.

The Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 19 this year.

The OAC said the activities followed a similar Lunar New Year cultural visit earlier this year with officials from the American Institute in Taiwan, and aimed to give international partners a closer look at Taiwan's coast guard and its maritime cooperation with like-minded countries.