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Taiwan, New Zealand to step up cultural cooperation

Taiwan and New Zealand have signed a landmark economic cooperation agreement earlier this year on July 10, which covers a wide range of topics, including employment opportunities, environmental cooperation and protection, flight and open air rights, film and TV co-production, and cultural exchanges among the nations’ respective indigenous groups.

In particular, the Ministry of Culture is looking forward to promote extensive exchanges in the fields of audiovisual productions, humanities, publishing, and aboriginal art with New Zealand through its “Southern Expansion” policy series. 

Culture Minister Lung Ying-tai remarked that New Zealand’s motion picture professionals, in particular those involved in cinematic post-production and special effects, and their Taiwanese counterparts, will be given preferential treatment. She added that the mutual arrangement and the trade pact are significant to Taiwan’s entry to the southern hemisphere.

In addition to cooperation in film and television productions and the exchange of commodities, the Ministry will also promote the exchange of ideas and literature. The Minister said that not only will Taiwanese readers be able to gain access to New Zealand’s literature, Taiwanese writers will also be able to write about New Zealand using beautiful Chinese characters.

The Ministry has also invited New Zealand to become the theme country of the 2015 Taipei International Book Exhibition, with the Minister concluding that if New Zealand is Taiwan’s door to the southern hemisphere, Taiwan may very well be a door to the northern hemisphere for New Zealand as well.