The Ministry of Culture (MOC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) held a meeting on Feb. 11, marking the first discussion between Minister of Culture Li Yuan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). The two ministers explored ways to strengthen collaboration between their ministries to advance cultural diplomacy initiatives.
Minister Li highlighted last year’s Paris Cultural Olympiad as a successful example of inter-ministerial cooperation, led by François Chihchung Wu (吳志中), Taiwan’s former Representative to France and now Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Li expressed his hope that this collaboration would yield even greater results at World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, as well as in various art festivals across Europe.
MOFA Minister Lin emphasized that culture and diplomacy should complement each other, aligning with President Lai Ching-te’s vision of value-based diplomacy. He underscored the pivotal role of culture in this approach.
During the meeting, representatives from both ministries discussed strategies for promoting Taiwanese culture in Europe and at World Expo 2025 in Japan. MOFA’s efforts in Europe will begin with an exhibition featuring Taiwan’s National Palace Museum in the Czech Republic. In conjunction with MOC’s participation in the Avignon Off Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, and other cultural events, the initiative aims to foster deeper exchanges with European countries.
Meanwhile, MOC plans to showcase Taiwanese art and culture at World Expo 2025 through diverse media, including film, literature, illustration, and technology. Additionally, the ministry will invite the General Association of Chinese Culture to host the cultural festival Taiwan Plus in Osaka for the first time, following its positive reception among Japanese visitors in previous years.
