Vice Foreign Minister Ger opens 2025 NSP Elite Study Program

2025/09/18

The 2025 New Southbound Policy Elite Study Program opened Sept. 12 in Taipei City, underscoring government commitment to strengthening mutual understanding and expanding personnel exchanges with target countries.
 
Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the program provides 103 participants from NSP target countries with a deeper understanding of artificial intelligence and circular economics at National Taipei University of Technology; community medical services at Taipei Medical University; cross-strait history and China studies at National Quemoy University in Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen County; green and sustainable governance at National Chung Hsing University; and smart agriculture at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology.
 
MOFA Vice Minister Ger Bau-shuan said that the quality of Taiwan’s higher education has received positive recognition in NSP countries since the program was launched in 2022. Fourteen alumni from the program have returned to Taiwan to study for master and doctoral degrees, he noted, adding that this year, young people from Bangladesh and Nepal were recruited, demonstrating expanding influence as the program drew students from South Asia.
 
Ger stated that the program demonstrates strengths and competitiveness in areas spanning public health, semiconductors, regional and cross-strait studies, climate change governance as well as sustainable agriculture and food security. Citing President Lai Ching-te’s promotion of the New Southbound Policy+ in the 2025 Yushan Forum held in March, the vice minister added that the MOFA is committed to strengthening collaboration with NSP countries in non-red supply chains, digital unity and reliable technology.
 
The MOFA further pledges to implement the NSP+ initiative under its integrated diplomacy policy and make Taiwan a hub for regional youth to exchange concepts and expertise.
 
A key plank in the government’s national development strategy, the NSP seeks to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand. 


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)