Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te, along with the chair of Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques (Academy of Moral Science and Politics) Rémi Brague and tenured secretary Jean-Robert Pitte, took part in hosting the award ceremony of the 25th Taiwan-France Cultural Award on June 20 in Paris.
The two winners who were presented with the Taiwan-France Cultural Award for their contributions to cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Europe are Jana S. Rošker, a professor in the Department of Asian Studies at the University of Ljubljana, and Wu Kun-yung (吳坤墉), the general planner of the book series "Collection Critique socio-politique (人文批判)" published by Editions Utopie.
Wu said that he has been actively involved in facilitating cultural exchanges between Taiwan and France since 2002. Through his works, he hopes that they will help to open up a dialogue between authors and readers from both countries. In a pre-recorded video, Rošker expressed her gratitude to the Taiwan-France Cultural Award for establishing a bond between the people of Taiwan, France, Europe, and the world.
Minister Lee thanked Wu for promoting social thinking and the practice of social movements through his works, and also thanked Rošker for showing the role that Taiwan plays in the Chinese world as a country with freedom of expression and thought as well as diverse ethnic cultures.
He added that the Taiwan-France Cultural Award plays an important role in strengthening the friendship between both countries. Taiwan-France Cultural Award was co-founded by the Ministry of Culture and the Academy of Moral Science and Politics of the Institute of France in 1996 to enhance cultural exchanges between the two nations. The award has become increasingly influential in promoting mutual understanding between Taiwan and Europe.