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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Education
Reform body to be upgraded
Premier Yu Shyi-kun announced yesterday that he will establish a Cabinet-level commission that will formulate ideas for much-discussed education reforms. Yu made the remarks at a symposium on national affairs organized by the Taiwan Advocates, a private think tank headed by former President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝). Because most teachers, students and parents are reportedly upset about the present education system, Yu decided to elevate the authority of the education reform commission. He added that he himself will be the convener of the commission. Yu said he will take the consensus reached at the symposium as reference when discussing government policy.

■ Diplomacy
Official in Czech Republic
Taiwan Presidential Adviser and Ambassador-at-Large Jan Chi-hsien (詹啟賢) arrived in the Czech Republic capital of Prague Friday to attend the Sixth Forum 2000 conference convened by Czech President Vaclav Havel. With the general title "Narrowing the International Gap, Pursuing Global Consensus," participants at the two-day forum will discuss "the information gap and the media's role;" "the regulations gap -- double standards for international trade and finance;" "the gap between public welfare and private interests -- morality, responsibility and perpetuity in international cooperation;" and "the gap between the South and the North -- surmounting foreign debt." In addition to noted international professors, scholars and heads of non-governmental organizations, Taiwan's representative to the Czech Republic Roy Wu, former US Labor Secretary Robert Reich, former South African president F.W. De Klerk and former Hong Kong Governor Christopher Patten are also attending.

■ Diplomacy
Honduran president arrives
Honduran President Ricardo Maduro will arrive in Taiwan today as the head of a 16-member delegation that will stay in Taiwan for a five-day visit. Foreign Affairs Minister Eugene Chien (簡又新) will host a dinner in honor of the delegation tonight and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will formally welcome the Honduran president the following day with full military honors at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The two presidents will then have a meeting, after which they will visit Nantou County. Later in the day, Chen will confer a decoration upon Maduro before hosting a dinner at the Taiwan Provincial Administration's Information Hall in Nantou County. Maduro and his delegation will also call on Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and visit various cultural and economic establishments such as the Taroko National Park, Tzu-chi (慈濟) University, the Taipei World Trade Center and the Mackay Memorial Hospital.

■ Culture
French feast in Taipei
A three-day cultural event is being staged in Taipei City this weekend to celebrate a French cultural feast called Lire en Fete (法國讀書節). The feast traditionally takes place on the third weekend of every October and is being sponsored in Taiwan by the French Institute in Taipei, the Belgian Trade Association in Taipei and local French bookstores. The theme this year is "Litterature et Gastronomie" and it features an array of activities ranging from seminars, book exhibits, French cuisine tastings, movies and literature readings. Phone (02) 2517-2616 for more information.

Agencies
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