Taiwan: The Representative of Taiwan based Office of Tibet, Kelsang Gyaltsen Bawa called on Lee Yung Te, Culture Minister of Taiwan on Wednesday, 16th February.

The Representative was accompanied by both the new and former Director of Taiwan’s Mongolian-Tibetan Cultural Center, Secretary of OOT, and Chairperson of Gangjong Publication.

During his interaction with the Minister of Culture, the Representative acknowledged the establishment of a new Mongolian-Tibetan Cultural Center under the administration of the Ministry of Culture as instrumental in forging a direct and strengthened relationship between the two establishments for the first time. He noted that the newly formed bond has enabled the visitation of concerned officials to Dharamshala and the hosting of multiple campaigns associated with Tibetan culture. Representative Kelsang also solicited their cooperation in future collaborations. A brief introduction on the fundamental duties and responsibilities of the Office of Tibet and Gangjong Publication was presented by the Representative.

Culture Minister Lee Yung Tee expressed his appreciation of Tibet’s rich culture and tradition and emphasised its need to be preserved and promoted. He assured complete cooperation of his ministry to future endeavours of the Office of Tibet. To nourish the flourishing relationship between the Office of Tibet and Taiwan, the Representative appealed to the Minister to allow Tibetans to visit Taiwan for studies, to preach Tibetan Buddhism and to pursue a career in the country to which the Culture Minister has assured to discuss the request in the upcoming meeting.

During the hour-long interactive session, Mr. Sonam Dorjee, Secretary of OOT Taiwan, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Li Yongde, the then Vice Mayor of Kaohsiung, for his careful organisation of the reception for His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his visit to Taiwan in 2009. In addition, Secretary Sonam Dorjee also thanked Minister Li Yongde for his facilitation and guidance in terms of funding and venue for the Taipei Citizen Book Fair, which was held annually before the epidemic. He also expressed his gratitude to the Snow Press, a subsidiary of the Taiwan Office, for the privilege of participating in the Taipei Citizen Book Fair alongside official and non-governmental organisations in Taiwan.

Minister Li Yongde pledged to continue to support the participation of Taiwanese NGOs in the Taipei Citizen Book Fair in the future and also introduced the issues and preparations related to the reception of His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his visit to Taiwan in 2009.

On the previous day of the meeting, the Representative and his colleagues paid a courtesy visit to MP Freddy Lim, President of the Taiwanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet to mainly discuss the upcoming 63rd anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day.

-Report filed by OOT. Taiwan