At the invitation of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group, Minister of Culture Li Yuan visited France’s Assemblée nationale on Sept. 9 as part of his European tour. In addition, he also engaged in discussions with Didier Fusiller, president of the Grand Palais, and Gaëtan Bruel, president of the French National Centre of Cinema (CNC), focusing on enhancing cultural exchange and exploring possibilities for future collaborations.
Minister Li noted that, thanks to France’s support, Taiwan has been able to bring its culture to wider audiences in Europe. Recent initiatives include inviting celebrated author Li Ang (李昂) to the Atlantide Literature Festival, staging a retrospective of director Edward Yang (楊德昌)’s films at the Festival La Rochelle Cinéma, and presenting Taiwanese performing arts groups at the Festival Off Avignon.
He expressed his gratitude to President Fusiller for supporting Taiwan’s participation in the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad—an important platform that allowed Taiwanese performers to shine on the global stage. Minister Li also said the Grand Palais’s experience in its ongoing reconstruction could offer valuable insights for Taiwan’s own efforts in cultural preservation and architectural development.
In response, President Fusiller praised Taiwan’s cultural vitality and emphasized its role as a key partner, particularly in the areas of art and technology.
With his background in filmmaking, Minister Li also exchanged views with President Bruel on evolving film-viewing trends in France. President Bruel, in turn, reaffirmed CNC’s commitment to deepening ties with Taiwan through knowledge sharing, professional consultancy, and new initiatives to bring the two nations’ film industries closer together.