Representative Kelly W. Hsieh of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Central Library in Taiwan and the British Library on Thursday 13th January.
The Memorandum of Understanding, which facilitates academic exchange between Taiwan and the UK, was signed by Dr Shu-Hsien Tseng, Director General of the National Central Library, and Mr Roly Keating, Chief Executive of the British Library. Representative John Dennis of the British Office Taipei also witnessed the virtual signing ceremony.
Mr Keating, on behalf of the British Library, warmly welcomed the distinguished guests and commented upon the significance of the signing of the Memorandum, as well as his hope that further collaborations would follow.
Director Tseng, meanwhile, remarked that the signing of a comprehensive cooperation agreement with the world-renowned British Library reflects the high regard in which Taiwan is held internationally. The new Memorandum is far greater in scope and detail than the previous agreements signed between the two parties, therefore representing a meaningful milestone in their relationship. The Memorandum notably pledges cooperation in a number of areas, including the digitisation of Chinese collections, the establishment of research collaborations and the organisation of joint forums or workshops on curation and maintenance.
Representative Hsieh was honoured to witness the development of a cultural partnership of this kind between Taiwan and the UK. He hopes that the signing of the Memorandum between the national libraries of the two countries will strengthen networks of academic resources and enhance Taiwan's reputation on the international stage.
The final speaker, Representative Dennis, praised the institutions’ rich collections of ancient Chinese books and was pleased to observe this commitment to cooperation and exchange.
The British Library is one of the largest and most prestigious libraries in the world, boasting a rich and diverse collection covering more than 400 languages. Its collection encompasses books, magazines, manuscripts, maps, sheet music, newspapers, patents, stamps, paintings and sound archives. Likewise, the National Central Library has long been engaged in initiatives to promote Taiwan’s culture and intellectual assets overseas.
It is expected that the new Memorandum of Understanding will broaden the existing scholarly links between the two national libraries and allow Taiwan to promote its librarial accomplishments to the world. The agreement aims to increase research collaborations and resource-sharing platforms, thus providing benefits to scholars on both sides.
