TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Jean-Francois Huchet, president of France’s National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO), visited Taiwan last Sunday to foster deeper exchanges in Taiwan studies and languages.
INALCO is a renowned institution specializing in languages and the histories and cultures of regions outside Western Europe, according to an Education Ministry press release. The institute has about 8,000 students, including roughly 2,000 international students from 120 countries.
During his visit, Huchet toured academic and research institutions, including National Taiwan University and National Taiwan Normal University. He also visited the French Office in Taipei and Academia Sinica for educational exchanges and dialogue on Taiwan-France academic issues.
INALCO previously signed an MOU with the education division of Taiwan’s representative office in France to establish a Taiwan Studies chair as part of a five-year cooperation plan, presenting new perspectives on Taiwan through the lenses of culture, language and knowledge.
Last Thursday, Deputy Education Minister Liu Kuo-wei (劉國偉) met with Huchet and affirmed the long-standing academic partnership between Taiwan and France. Liu thanked Huchet for attending the Taiwan-France Higher Education Forum last year and praised him for his continued support of bilateral educational exchanges.
Liu said the Education Ministry encourages more Taiwanese students to pursue further study and exchange opportunities in France to broaden their global outlook and cross-cultural competitiveness. The ministry also welcomes French youth to come to Taiwan to study and take part in exchanges, Liu said.
Given Huchet’s additional role as vice president of France Universites, Liu expressed hope that Taiwan’s and France’s university president organizations would have more opportunities for exchanges.
