The culture ministry says its platform created to strengthen cultural exchanges with ASEAN member countries has been well received. That’s the word from culture ministry official Chou Pei-ji on Tuesday.
Chou said Taiwan’s creative environment is what ASEAN cultural workers find attractive.
“When it comes to art, a space that allows [people] to do creative work freely is what the ten ASEAN member countries lack the most," said Chou.
"That’s why people are positive about Taiwan. In the beginning, they are looking to find a direction for bilateral cooperation. Then they start pondering what Taiwan and ASEAN have in common.”
While Taiwan is not an ASEAN member, it wants to use the platform to demonstrate Taiwan’s soft power. The culture ministry has invited culture workers from Thailand, Malaysia and Japan to attend symposiums in Taiwan.
The culture ministry has also received invitations to attend an Asian culture forum in Lao PDR next January and an Asian scholars’ meeting in Thailand in 2017.