Deputy Minister Lu Mu-lin            

Ministry of Education 

Good morning. 

President Dr. Hormuth and honorable HRK delegates,

Director General Mr. Dreesen of the German Institute in Taiwan, Director Mr. Rummel of DAAD, Chairpersons of the Taiwanese Universities Association, President Mu, President Chang, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of the Ministry of Education, it is a great pleasure to be able to attend today's "Signing Ceremony for Taiwanese-German Academic Links Agreement". Without a doubt, this agreement is a momentous milestone regarding your efforts to establish avenues for  student enrichment and academic collaboration between Germany and Taiwan's institutions of higher education. 

Since the Taiwanese University Presidents delegation's visit, in 2001, to HRK, we have been looking forward with great expectation to the finalization of our mutual efforts for promoting greater educational links between our two countries. 

This agreement represents the great efforts of many. We earnestly hope that these efforts will continue to provide long term and mutual benefits to both our countries and their educational communities.

I believe that the Academic Links Agreement will foster many meaningful partnership relationships between German and Taiwanese universities, which in turn will generate a variety of cooperative exchange programs. 

In closing, I would like to offer my warm and sincere congratulations regarding your accomplishments and the signing of this very important agreement, along with best wishes for an enjoyable visit for our guests.