Toronto, Sept. 3 (CNA) TaiwanFest, an annual Taiwanese cultural festival in Canada that was held in Toronto from Aug. 25-27 and is currently in Vancouver, has generated multiple benefits for Taiwan, Taiwan's minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council said Sunday.
The benefits range from diplomatic, economic and trade to culture, tourism and engagement with the compatriot community, said Wu Hsin-hsing, who is in Vancouver for the three-day event from Sept. 2-4.
Wu explained that the festival was designed to showcase Taiwan's multiple cultures to different ethnic groups in Canada. In future, the event plans to transform itself into an international activity with Asian features, he said.
The 2017 edition of TaiwanFest has the theme "Kanpai Japan!" and was officially opened at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver on Saturday, attracting about 1,500 government officials, Taiwanese and Japanese diplomats, Taiwanese compatriot community members and local people.
It has been 28 years since TaiwanFest was first held in Vancouver, said Charlie Wu, managing director of the Asian-Canadian Special Events Association, which organizes the festival.
The event is recognized by and receives financial support from Canadian central and local governments, Wu said, and it has also been designated one of three major downtown summer activities by the Vancouver city government.
TaiwanFest has proved to be a highly effective platform for cultural diplomacy, Wu said.
The festival began a five-year theme program, titled "Dialogue with Asia," last year, according to Wu. This year, the theme is "Kanpai Japan!," which means "drinking a toast with Japan."
Festival activities include musical concerts and other live entertainment as well as lectures, films, culinary shows, visual arts exhibits, family-oriented activities and a giant street party with food and market stalls.
