Myanmar and Pakistan have been added to the list of target countries for Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy Elite Study Program. That’s according to the Foreign Ministry, which held an opening ceremony for this year’s program on Friday. The five-month program will run from September to January and was implemented for the first time last year. The ministry has cooperated with domestic universities to invite talents from eight countries including India, Indonesia, and Vietnam to study in Taiwan.
Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang (田中光) said in his speech that the first year was successful and received an enthusiastic response. Tien says that is why more countries were added and that the number of students joining the program has increased from 50 to 70.
Tien adds that this year's students will study public health, medicine, science and technology, cross-strait relations, Chinese, and other subjects. He also hopes that the students can use their five months in Taiwan to get to know the country more deeply.