President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday met with a delegation led by International Peace Foundation (IPF) chairman Uwe Morawetz, who confirmed that six Nobel laureates would visit Taiwan starting next year as part of its Taiwan Bridges program.
They discussed the program, which would stimulate educational exchanges and a culture of peace through dialogue, with National Taiwan University (NTU) president Chen Wen-chang (陳文章).
Taiwan is a geopolitical center and an important democratic country in the Indo-Pacific region, Lai said, thanking Chen for his contributions in cultivating many talented people for the country.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office
The establishment of the NTU International College last month would help Taiwan train more leaders with global political and economic visions, Lai added.
Lai also thanked Lite-On Technology Corp founder Raymond Soong (宋恭源) for his donation to NTU, saying it helped the university establish an interdisciplinary international exchange platform, which facilitated the cooperation between Morawetz and Chen.
Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation executive director Yen Po-wen (顏博文) and Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps physician Lin Shi-han (林士涵) were also welcomed by Lai.
He thanked Tzu Chi for its fast action in offering relief and support to people affected by disasters, and the Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps for its long-term dedication in providing medical services and resources in remote areas in more than 50 countries and areas.
The two charity organizations’ actions demonstrate that Taiwan is a force for good and holds the same values as the IPF, Lai said.
Hopefully they can have more global exchanges and cooperation in the future, he added.
Morawetz said that when he met with Nobel laureate Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲) during his visit to Taiwan in October last year, Lee had suggested the IPF hold its Bridges program in Taiwan and helped him contact NTU.
“Bridges — Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace” is an international, intercultural and interdisciplinary event series that brings Nobel laureates to different parts of the world to conduct joint research programs and collaborate with local universities. Its aim is to strengthen dialogue and communication, which would lead to better cooperation and the advancement of peace, freedom and security in the region.
The Bridges program in Taiwan is to be held between November next year and April 2026, Morawetz said.
Hopefully the events can help showcase Taiwan’s leading role in technology, entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability, as well as bolster Taiwan’s important role in peace development, international cooperation and maintaining global security, Morawetz said.
The program is called “Bridges,” because they hope it can build bridges between Nobel laureates and Taiwan, allowing them to maintain long-term relationships with Taiwanese universities or institutions after their visit, continue to visit Taiwan, invite Taiwanese students to work at their laboratories, or initiate more joint research projects, he said.
Six Nobel laureates in physics, medicine, chemistry and economics have been invited by NTU, but they would also be visiting Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung and other cities or counties, Morawetz said.
Hopefully the program would have opportunities to collaborate with other universities and build long-term relationships with more local foundations and charity organizations, allowing it to reach all corners of Taiwan and benefit the whole country, he said.
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