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Delegation to travel to China to boost Aboriginal economy

An Aboriginal delegation will visit China later this month to help boost the economic prospects of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples.

Legislator May Chin (高金素梅) of the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union will lead the delegation to Beijing and Yunnan Province between Aug. 19 and Aug. 27, her office director, Chang Chun-chieh (張俊傑), said on Monday.

The delegation will exchange views with Chinese government agencies on issues that concern indigenous peoples.

China is expected to announce measures to help the visitors, such as donations for the construction of “hope” elementary schools, an idea first initiated by Taiwanese in China, as well as a program to help Aboriginal school dropouts.

The delegation will also ask China to include indigenous communities in the itineraries of Chinese tourists and sell agricultural produce grown by Taiwan’s indigenous peoples to help them improve incomes, Chang added.

He said it was “quite a pity” that when Chinese tourists visit Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) and ­Alishan (阿里山), they do not have a chance to visit indigenous villages near the scenic spots.

Chang said Aboriginal culture was a major part of local culture, and if tourists could observe indigenous communities, they would understand the real Taiwan.

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council recently discussed the purchase of handicrafts made by indigenous peoples while meeting Chinese procurement groups, he said.

The delegation hopes to discuss purchase proposals with China’s Ministry of Commerce so China can systematically introduce handicrafts from Taiwan’s indigenous peoples and establish a marketing network there.
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