Alexander Tah-ray Yui
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
October 28, 2022
(As Prepared for Delivery)
A very good evening to you all!
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), it is my pleasure to host the opening reception for the 2022 NSP Film Festival. First of all, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you all and thank you for gathering here this evening to celebrate the very first NSP Film Festival organized by MOFA.
Since the launch of the New Southbound Policy in 2016, we have made substantial progress on cooperation with partner countries in such areas as trade, agriculture, fisheries, technology, education, and health. The NSP is based on a people-centric approach, which has contributed to the diversity and richness of Taiwanese society.
The policy has boosted tourism and migration between Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region. There are more than 690,000 migrant workers from Southeast Asia in Taiwan. Before the pandemic, in 2019, we welcomed over 2.7 million tourists from NSP partner countries, accounting for 23 percent of visits that year. Meanwhile, more than 3 million Taiwanese travelers visited NSP partner countries.
Films from NSP partners have also gained more attention in Taiwan in recent years. Movies hold a dear place in the hearts of Taiwanese people. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, audiences have continued to flock to the cinema. Theater attendance in 2021 added up to 20 million. Watching films from other countries introduces us to different cultures and places. But the movies also resonate with us on a human level, despite the language barriers.
This is the first time MOFA has held the NSP Film Festival. Through a selection of outstanding movies recommended by partner governments, we hope to present audiences in Taiwan with films that capture the essence of the participating countries. Most important of all, we want to reconnect people with our regional neighbors. The Songs We Sang from Singapore tells the history of Singaporean folk music; The Garden of Evening Mists from Malaysia depicts the restrained passions of the post-World War II era; Chhichhore from India is about searching for meaning in life; Homestay from Thailand is a reflection on the preciousness of life; and The Road Less Traveled by an Indonesian director explores the spirit of struggle. The opening film is Listen Before You Sing from Taiwan, which introduces the rustic charm of an indigenous community.
For the past two or more years, travel between Taiwan and NSP partner countries has been seriously affected by the pandemic. Now that Taiwan’s border control measures have been loosened and the visa-exemption scheme is back in effect, people-to-people ties with the rest of the region will start to increase. We hope that through this film festival, we can bring the best of NSP partner countries to audiences in Taiwan, including new immigrants. Thank you all again for coming. Please enjoy the rest of the evening and prepare to be inspired by the opening film, Listen Before You Sing. Thank you!