Invited by two student organizations of the University of Toronto (U of T), Contemporary Asian Studies Student Union (CASSU) and Taiwan Now, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Toronto Catherine Y. M. Hsu on October 28th gave a speech entitled “Taiwan and Canada: Partners of Shared Values and Interests” in the first event of the Global Taiwan Lecture series at U of T, and interacted with more than 20 students and faculty members in attendance.
When introducing DG Hsu’s talk, Prof. Tong Lam, the Acting Director of Dr. David Chu Program in Asia Pacific Studies at the Asian Institute at U of T’s Munk School of Global Affairs, praised Taiwan for its transformation from a young democracy to a mature one. Therefore, Acting Director Lam mentioned that the importance of Taiwan is more than itself and should be placed in the global context. From this perspective, he believes, the Global Taiwan Studies project at U of T is of great significance as it will encourage the academia to continue to focus on Taiwan from broader and more diverse viewpoints.
In her talk, DG Hsu briefly compared national profiles and developments of Taiwan and Canada before elaborating on President Tsai Ing-wen’s policy priorities and outlines. She highlighted the shared common values of freedom, democracy and human rights between Taiwan and Canada as well as the similar policy concepts of the two countries. In addition, DG Hsu illustrated developments in recent years such as visa-waivers, increase of direct flights and working holiday visa (also known as International Experience Canada, IEC) in Taiwan-Canada relations.
DG Hsu stressed that the trade ties between Taiwan and Canada are mutually complementary and beneficial. Taiwan hopes that with the signing of the Avoidance of Double Taxation Arrangement (ADTA) between Taiwan and Canada earlier this year, the two sides will soon convene the talk on Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) to further promote trade and investment. During her presentation, DG Hsu also introduced the Five Innovative Industries Project and the New Southbound Policy promoted by Taiwan’s new government, by which, she hoped, more business opportunities and trade cooperation can be created. In addition, DG Hsu also listed some of the events and projects hosted and promoted by Toronto TECO which were aimed at further advancing exchanges between Taiwan and Canada, in particular among young people.
DG Hus’s talk is part of the Global Taiwan Studies initiative, which is a three-year program jointly set up by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and U of T. Two more seminars, entitled “Gender Transformations in Sinophone Taiwan” and “A dialogue on a Common Future: Social, Demographic, and Political Changes in East Asia” respectively, will be held on Nov. 11 and Nov. 18 in sequence.
DG Hsu (4th from the left) is joined by students and faculty members of U of T and other guests for a group photo.