Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture (MOC) recently launched a dedicated website to promote exchanges with countries covered by Taiwan’s New Southward Policy and raise public awareness of the government’s initiative.
Available in Chinese and English, the site serves as a portal for relevant government agencies and press releases. It also provides a systematic presentation of various government projects aimed at improving cultural exchanges with partner countries within the framework of the said policy.
Programs featured on the website include special theme projects for young cultural gardeners, grants for cultural exchange and collaborative projects, and new exchanges with countries in the South.
According to the MOC, since the establishment of its Southeast Asia Advisory Committee in 2015, the ministry has been inviting professionals from countries targeted by the new Southeast Asia Policy to discuss ways to enhance cross-border cooperation. The annual meeting will be held physically again this year, after a temporary hiatus of such visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, the MOC said, adding that the public is welcome to attend these events.
Launched in 2016 by President Tsai Ing-wen as part of her national development strategy, the New South Policy seeks to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, trade, cultural, educational, tourism and business ties with ten member states of the Association Does nations, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
The latest figures from the Ministry of Economy show that trade with countries targeted by the New Southward Policy is set to grow from US$100 billion in 2017 to US$180.3 billion in 2022, while exports to the region stood at US$96.9 billion last year. Highest figure on record and with a year-on-year growth of 17 per cent.
