The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia (TECO) hosted a Reception on the 4th of October 2018 at the National Gallery of Australia to celebrate the Republic of China’s 107th National Day, which falls on October 10. Approximately 400 guests joined Representative Elliott Charng and TECO’s staff members at the celebration of the ROC’s birthday.

Representative Charng said in his opening remarks that the relationship between Taiwan and Australia has developed in many ways. Since 2015, Taiwan has hosted nearly 450 Australian students who came to Taiwan to study and undertake work-based experiences under the New Colombo Plan introduced by the Australian government.

Ms. Abigail Slater, an Australian National University student who participated in the New Colombo Plan was invited to speak at the Reception about her personal experience of studying and living in Taiwan for one year. Abigail enthusiastically shared some of her many memories of Taiwan’s academic and industrial circles and community, and its academic freedom and democratic society.

Taiwan is one of the 40 eligible host locations for the New Colombo Plan which supports study across the Indo-Pacific region. Higher education is a part of Australia’s nation-building vision which sees youth mobility as beneficial for global learning. 

Photo:New Colombo Plan Taiwan Scholar Ms. Abigail Slater talking about her experiences in Taiwan at the National Day Reception in Canberra, on October 4, 2018.