Taiwanese and Australian officials talk closer ties

Taiwanese and Australian officials talk closer ties

2024-12-16

A recent FTV talk show invited three officials involved with Taiwan-Australia affairs. During the show, Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner Juna Ferrett recounted fondly her childhood in Taiwan; while Chen Chiu-yen, member of the Overseas Community Affairs Council, or OCAC talked about her experience fostering cultural exchanges for over two decades in Australia. Together with OCAC Minister Hsu Chia-ching, they held a lively discussion on developing closer Taiwan-Australia ties.

Melody Chen
OCAC member
Everything’s within reach in Taiwan. But in Australia, wow, it’s like you can’t get anywhere. It took some time getting used to.

Member of the Overseas Community Affairs Council Chen Chiu-yen has been a Taiwanese expat in Australia for three decades. Currently, Chen is also the chair of the Australia Taiwan Culture Foundation and a painter.

Melody Chen
OCAC member
I painted Yushan, because it’s the pride of Taiwan. I also painted Taipei 101, because I want people in Australia to see Taiwan.

Chen is active in Queensland’s art scene. For more than 20 years, she’s painted the beauty of Taiwan. In 2003 she founded the World Arts & Multi-Culture Inc., a foundation that’s introduced Taiwan’s top music and stage performance groups to Australia, including the likes of Ju Percussion Group, the Chio-Tian Folk Drums & Art Troupe, and the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra.

Juna Ferrett, Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner has Indigenous Taiwanese and Australian heritage. She lived in Taiwan until sixth grade and still has fond memories of Taitung.

Juna Ferrett
Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner
When I was little I often went to the hot springs in Kanalung. Great times. I remember there was a small suspension bridge, a red one, I remember it clearly. Two weeks ago I went back and saw that they’ve built a new bridge, completely brand new. I was really touched.

Of all places, Ferrett remembered a bridge near her childhood home. Meanwhile, Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council Hsu Chia-ching shared her views on fostering closer Taiwan-Australia relations.

Hsu Chia-ching
OCAC minister
Australia has strong tourism, agriculture and mining industries. These are the main drivers of their economy. Whereas Taiwan has an edge in high tech, healthcare and biotechnology. I’ve always thought Australia and Taiwan are the most complementary pair of countries.

Hsu said Taiwan and Australia are a great example of the sum being greater than its parts.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

台澳混血! 昆士蘭駐台經貿代表費裘娜難忘台灣生活

2024-12-16

同為印太民主夥伴的台灣與澳洲兩國，交流越來越密切，昆士蘭州駐台經貿投資代表費裘娜，就是台澳混血，小時候在南部生活，至今仍念念不忘。住在澳洲布里斯本的僑務委員陳秋燕，本身是一名藝術家，更是經常把玉山、台北101、台灣蝴蝶，當作創作題材，透過自己的畫作讓世界看見台灣美。

[[澳洲布里斯本僑務委員陳秋燕]]
"台灣什麼都很方便，去到澳洲，哇，好像寸步難行，剛開始是非常不適應"

旅居澳洲長達30年，澳洲布里斯本僑務委員陳秋燕，也是澳台文化基金會董事長，本身也是一名優秀的藝術家。

[[澳洲布里斯本僑務委員陳秋燕]]
"我會畫玉山，因為玉山是台灣的驕傲，我也畫台北的101，最主要是讓澳洲有人看見台灣"

20多年來，把台灣之美融入畫作中，更在2003年，成立"世界多元文化藝術協會"，要請台灣知名的朱宗慶打擊樂團、九天民俗技藝團、長榮交響樂團等到澳洲演出，希望把台灣優質文化藝術推廣到世界各地。

台澳混血的費裘娜，儘管小學六年級就搬到澳洲，但對台灣的好，仍念念不忘。

[[澳洲昆士蘭州駐台貿易暨投資代表費裘娜]]
"我小時候常常去金崙泡溫泉，對，就有很美好的回憶，那我記得那時候有一個小吊橋，是一個紅色的吊橋，然後這就是很深刻的一個回憶這樣子，上上禮拜又回去，就發現他們建了一個新的橋，完全就是新的橋，所以我就感覺上很感動"

看似不起眼的吊橋卻承載著費裘娜的兒時回憶，僑委會委員長徐佳青，也分享自己的澳洲經歷。

[[僑委會委員長徐佳青]]
"到澳洲去呢，他們是觀光、農業、礦業，是他們的這個很主要的經濟發展，那台灣呢，是這個高科技業，醫療或者是這個生物科技，我一直覺得澳洲跟台灣，是最可以互補的兩個國家"

台灣與澳洲相輔相成的特性，期盼為台澳合作發揮1+1的最大效益。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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