Australian Representative to Taiwan Jenny Bloomfield on Tuesday bid farewell to Taiwan in a message recorded in Hoklo (also known as Taiwanese) after serving for more than two years in the nation.
Foreign diplomats stationed in Taipei often post videos containing farewell messages, but they are usually in their mother tongues or in Mandarin.
In a video posted on Twitter, Bloomfield, who heads the Australian Office Taipei, said she was honored to have contributed to the improving ties between the two sides during her tenure, which began in February 2021.
Photo courtesy of the Kaohsiung City Government via CNA
The office serves Australia’s de facto embassy in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties.
The video was accompanied by a message that read: “Over the last three years, I have seen first-hand Taiwan’s rich diversity and resilience and experienced the warmth, friendship, support and hospitality of the Taiwanese people.”
Bloomfield said Australia and Taiwan share “democratic values, rich indigenous histories and cultures, open diverse societies, and a commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.”
The two sides also share long-standing business relations and the two economies have become more resilient and prosperous due to that relationship, she added.
Bloomfield praised Taiwan for its “natural beauties and cultural diversity” as well as its “commitment to democracy and freedom.”
“Taiwan’s achievements are worthy of admiration and respect. We will remain friends with Taiwan for life. Taiwan will always be in my heart,” she said.
Bloomfield is to leave her post in the coming weeks. The office has not announced her successor.
Bloomfield is a senior career officer at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and was the department’s Victoria State director in Melbourne before coming to Taipei.
She served as ambassador to Greece from 2011 to 2014.
Bloomfield speaks Mandarin, Japanese, Greek, French, Spanish, Italian and Farsi.
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