Taiwan Today

Taiwan and France recently concluded a reciprocal working holiday agreement, affording young adults the opportunity to experience the culture and lifestyles of both countries while laying the foundations for expanded bilateral exchanges going forward. The agreement, which will take effect Aug. 8, covers citizens aged 18-30 and has a quota of 500 for each side. Initial visa authorizations are for 180 days, with the option of a 180-day extension. Wu Chih-chung, deputy minister of foreign affairs, said July 14 during a Bastille Day function staged by the French Office in Taipei that the agreement signed the day before is a natural extension of strong Taiwan-France relations spanning the areas of agriculture, culture, investment, technology and trade. “We also expect it to play a key role in deepening exchanges between the young people of both nations.” Taiwan is an attractive and indispensible partner for France in Asia, Wu added, as they both enjoy good governance and share the common values of democracy, freedom, peace, and respect for human rights. France is Taiwan’s fourth largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade standing at US$4.02 billion in 2015. In addition, France is Taiwan’s second-largest technological cooperation partner worldwide, a fact evidenced by nearly 60 joint projects and 208 tertiary education accords. FOIT Director Benoit Guidee said in response, the agreement is certain to benefit both sides. “It will enable Taiwan’s youth to experience the beauty of France and vice versa,” Guidee said, adding that he expects many French nationals to travel to Taiwan and learn Chinese.” According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government is striving to sign more working holiday agreements with Taiwan’s international partners. France is the 10th country in Europe and 15th worldwide to enter into such an arrangement with Taiwan, joining Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, South Korea and the U.K. In related news, Taiwan and France renewed July 13 a bilateral aviation pact increasing from four to seven the number of direct flights per week between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris starting Oct. 10. Inked in 1997, the pact allows one carrier from each side to operate the services, with Taoyuan City-headquartered EVA Airways Corp. the only airline from Taiwan or France offering flights at present. The latest Civil Aeronautics Administration statistics reveal that the average occupancy rate for direct flights to Paris is 81.6 percent, while the average for the peak months of June to August is 92 percent. (KSC-E) Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw