Remarks by Deputy Minister Tien, Chung-kwang at the closing ceremony of the NGO Fellowship Program

Remarks by Deputy Minister Tien, Chung-kwang at the closing ceremony of the NGO Fellowship Program

• Data Source：Department of NGO International Affairs
• Date：2024-10-25

Tien, Chung-kwang

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Republic of China (Taiwan)

October 25, 2024

(As Prepared for Delivery)

Good evening!

I am delighted to welcome you all as we mark the successful conclusion of the 2024 NGO Fellowship Program. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to the young leaders from 14 countries who participated in the program.

I would also like to express my gratitude to the Taiwan Alliance in International Development, as well as to all the personnel and support staff involved in the program. It is your hard work and commitment that have made this initiative such a success.

Over the past month, through such diverse activities as workshops, institutional visits, and roundtable forums, participants have gained profound insights into the operations of Taiwanese NGOs and their roles on the international stage. This has not only been a journey of personal growth but also an opportunity to establish meaningful friendships with partners from different countries.

Tonight's closing ceremony may mark the end of a learning journey in Taiwan, but it is also the beginning of a new chapter in international collaboration for all of you. Indeed, in this era of globalization, international cooperation is more critical than ever. As the world faces many shared challenges-including climate change, public health crises, and social inequality-our ability to address these issues will continue to require collaborative effort among many nations and across numerous sectors.

Throughout this program, you not only observed the operation of Taiwanese NGOs but also experienced firsthand the energy and warmth of Taiwanese society. We hope you will actively share your experiences of Taiwan when you return home and serve as bridges between Taiwan and your respective nations.

A Bangladeshi participant from last year's NGO Fellowship Program published an article in the local media sharing her experiences of Taiwan. She wrote that she was impressed by how Taiwanese NGOs had developed a mature ecosystem without relying on large international organizations such as the United Nations. She concluded that the strong partnership between Taiwan's NGOs and the government could serve as a valuable model for the development of NGOs in Bangladesh.

Another participant from Myanmar went on to work with the Japanese NGO Association for Aid and Relief Japan (or AAR Japan for short). Following the major earthquake that struck Taiwan in April, she used her contacts in AAR Japan and urged the NGO to offer assistance toward post-earthquake recovery efforts.

These stories are a testament to the success of the NGO Fellowship Program in forging lasting and meaningful bonds between participants and Taiwan. And I am confident that many of you will have similar stories to tell in the years to come.

Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone here for your efforts and contributions. And thank you to all the partners and sponsors who assisted this program. It is due to your support that we can celebrate this important milestone together tonight.

In closing, I wish our 2024 NGO Fellowship Program participants every success going forward, and all of tonight's guests the very best of health. Thank you!