Congratulatory Speech for the Signing Ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding

                   Between 

The Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations

          Ministry of Education in Taipei 

                     And 

The Australian Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei 

                     By 

            Minister Tu Cheng-Sheng

             Ministry of Education

It is a great honor for me to be here with you on this occasion of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Educational Cooperation between the Australian Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei and the Ministry's Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations (BICER), in Taipei. 

The Australian Commerce and Industry Office and the Ministry of Education have enjoyed a long standing friendship with each other. Over the last several decades, many programs of cooperation have been established in the filed of education by individual institutions on both sides. 

This MOU commits us to work together more closely towards our common goal, the pursuit of the internationalization of education. Each side will pursue many significant activities, such as the promotion of educational and academic exchange between organizations, educational institutions and individuals; the promotion of study opportunities, assistance to support study and educational opportunities, to those seeking information and scholarships, seminars, workshops and conferences in the area of education and teacher training for language teachers. These are top priority items for the Ministry's agenda. 

At this moment of celebration, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone whose dedication and efforts have contributed to the finalization of this MOU. In particular, I would like to thank Ms. Frances Adamson, the Representative for the Australian Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei and her many colleagues. Their insights, goodwill and friendship have made the signing of this MOU a reality. 

In closing, I would like to say that I am confident that through our efforts and commitment, we will be able to achieve more and to be able to continue to develop even stronger relationships and friendships between the people of Australia and Taiwan. I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that the Ministry of Education in Taipei will do whatever it can in order to provide a successful implementation of this MOU. 

Thank you.