Taiwan takes New Steps to Promote Culture to World

Taipei, Oct. 12 (CNA) Government officials unveiled Wednesday a website and plans for the establishment of centers in the United States to promote Taiwan's culture and language.

The "Taiwan Academy" initiative will help let the world know about Taiwan's achievements in various fields, Minister without Portfolio Ovid Tzeng said at a press conference.

"We can tell the world how we reached where we are and how we plan to go global," he noted.

The website allows users to access Taiwan studies and Chinese learning resources, as well as images and descriptions of Taiwan's paintings, calligraphy and antiquities. It also showcases the country's flora and fauna.

In addition, it provides links to e-books and online magazines that introduce Taiwan, and allows users to browse for information on cultural events and festivals taking place in the country.

Meanwhile, the government will also open three Taiwan Academy centers in New York, Los Angeles and Houston Oct. 14.

The biggest difference between the Taiwan Academy and China's Confucius Institute is that the latter focuses on language learning while the former emphasizes e-learning and cultural learning through a rich online platform, Council for Cultural Affairs Minister Emile Chih-jen Sheng said.

The centers will feature a variety of exhibitions, scholarly conferences, film screenings and cultural activities.

They will also offer scholarships in nine categories worth a total of more than NT$640 million (US$21.06 million) each year to scholars and students interested in Taiwan studies and Sinology.

In addition to the U.S., Taiwan has signed letters of intent with 88 educational organizations in 30 countries to help promote Taiwan Academy-related events and information, according to Sheng.