Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu, together with all colleagues of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney, warmly welcomed President Yi-Chen Lan of Fu Jen Catholic University and his large delegation to the TAASA 2026 Annual Meeting, where President Lan shared his experiences in university governance over the past two years and his vision for the future.
In his welcoming remarks, DG Wu described President Lan as “a pride of Sydney,” praising his successful leadership of Fu Jen Catholic University, which he said has become Taiwan’s equivalent of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight universities. DG Wu also expressed special appreciation to TAASA President The Hon. Chris Rath MLC, Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, for attending the meeting during the parliamentary sitting period. He further thanked Mr Rath for supporting the bipartisan motion in the NSW Parliament opposing China’s distortion of UN Resolution 2758, making the NSW Parliament the first state parliament in the world to take such a position.
DG Wu also highlighted Taiwan’s indispensable role in global supply chains and noted that Taiwan is now Australia’s fourth-largest diesel import source, underscoring the importance of closer Taiwan–Australia cooperation. He added that TAASA continues to serve as an important platform for strengthening bilateral exchanges.
Hon. Chris Rath reflected on his two visits to Taiwan and emphasized the importance of cooperation between Taiwan and Australia as democratic partners. He praised Taiwan’s achievements in technology and healthcare, and stressed that Taiwan should be allowed to participate meaningfully in the WHO to contribute to the international community. He also welcomed the Fu Jen delegation and expressed hope for stronger Taiwan–Australia and Taiwan–NSW cooperation.
As keynote speaker, President Lan introduced Fu Jen Catholic University’s “GRACE” governance strategy, outlining the university’s holistic development in international education, outreach, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. He reaffirmed Fu Jen’s commitment to becoming a leading university in Taiwan and globally through stronger international partnerships and cross-disciplinary engagement.
Special thanks were extended to TAASA members, Taiwanese-Australian academics, and President Lan and his delegation for their participation. We look forward to TAASA’s next inspiring event.
