TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Tuesday presided over the graduation ceremony for 104 students from the 2024 New Southbound Policy Elite Study Program.
During the ceremony in Taipei, Lin presented the “Minister's Award" to five outstanding students. In attendance were representatives from the five participating universities: Taipei Medical University, National Quemoy University, National Chung Hsing University, National Taipei University of Technology, and National Pingtung University of Science and Technology in Pingtung County.
The graduating students hailed from 12 New Southbound Policy countries. Representatives from Taiwan's representative offices in six countries — Vietnam, New Zealand, India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia — were also invited to attend the event.

Lin said that since the foreign ministry began the program in 2022, 221 youths from 12 NSP countries have participated. These countries include Australia, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Lin said the program expanded last year. He noted that participants learn about Taiwan's advantages in public health, semiconductor technology, and food security, and other sectors.
He added the five-month program provides an in-depth experience of Taiwanese culture, including the study of Mandarin. Lin thanked NSP country representatives stationed in Taiwan for their support of youth exchanges.
The five recipients of this year's Minister's Award gave speeches in which they praised Taiwan's high-quality higher education, open democratic culture, and immersive teaching methods.

