The 2016 Asia-Pacific Culture Day concluded Nov. 6 at Taipei Main Station, with 20 foreign missions from the region and representatives from seven local governments participating in Taiwan’s efforts to promote cultural exchanges, interactions and understanding between Taiwan and its diplomatic allies and partners throughout the region.
“Culture is at the heart of our relationship with regional neighbors. Whereas before, economics and trade largely defined our diplomacy towards Southeast and South Asia, our new government has launched a New Southbound Policy that is more diverse and well-rounded,” Vice President Chen Chien-jen said. “We are working to build stronger ties with countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and South Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
“These ties go beyond economics and trade, into education, tourism, science and technology, and crucially, culture,” he added. “The Asia-Pacific Culture Day symbolizes this effort perfectly.”
Chen made the remarks during an address Nov. 5 at the two-day event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the embassies and representative offices of Asia-Pacific countries, local governments and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
MOFA Minister David Tawei Lee said each year the Asia-Pacific Culture Day draws a large attendance, as reflected in the more than 100,000 visitors seen last year.
“Thanks to globalization, exchanges between countries in such areas as culture are growing in both number and importance,” Lee said. “Such exchanges enrich our cultures, foster mutual understanding, reduce friction between peoples and nations, and move us closer to realizing a true global village.”
Now in its fifth year, the festival featured dance and music performances as well as booths showcasing artwork, specialty cuisines and tourism information from six of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and 14 partners in the Asia-Pacific.
The countries that had a presence at the event are Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Singapore, South Korea, the Marshall Islands, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tuvalu and Vietnam.
Six Taiwan cities, namely Kaohsiung, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Taipei and Taoyuan, as well as one county, Hsinchu, were also represented. The local governments of these areas have each signed friendship or sister city agreements with their counterparts in target countries of the New Southbound Policy. (KH-E)
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