Secretariat, Taipei City Government

On September 8, 2025, Taipei Mayor Wan-An Chiang received Olivier Cadic, French Senator and Vice President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Armed Forces, during his return visit to Taiwan. During the meeting, Mayor Chiang expressed his delight at being able to reunite with Vice President Cadic in Taipei after their previous meeting in Paris in June of 2025. The two parties engaged in in-depth discussions on educational and cultural exchange, and they jointly affirmed the major role of Lycée International Français de Taipei (LIFT) in advancing the cooperation between Taiwan and France. The Taipei City Government also arranged for Vice President Cadic to visit the LIFT campus located at Taipei Municipal Yongchun Senior High School.

During the meeting, Mayor Chiang stated that Taipei City is committed to promoting international intercity exchange and that LIFT serves as an exemplary model of educational cooperation. Since its inception, LIFT has successively expanded to include a junior high school division and multiple classes. Plans have also been formulated to establish a ninth grade and a high school division within the next 2 years. This expansion not only seeks to meet the educational needs of French families residing in Taiwan but also is expected to attract both local and international students, showcasing the city’s achievements in educational diversification and internationalization.

Vice President Cadic expressed strong affirmation of LIFT’s development, emphasizing that its success not only represents a new milestone in the educational cooperation between Taiwan and France but also contributes to enhancing Taipei’s visibility on the international stage. He also extended a personal invitation to Mayor Chiang to attend LIFT’s first anniversary banquet scheduled for October, reflecting the value that the French Government attaches to this collaboration.

In terms of cultural exchange, Mayor Chiang shared his experience with participating in the Fête de la Musique in Paris in June of 2025. He introduced upcoming events in Taipei City, such as Nuit Blanche, to highlight the city’s commitment to becoming a culturally vibrant and internationally attractive metropolis. These efforts aim to further deepen the cooperation between Taiwan and France and to attract more French youth to Taiwan for study, internships, and exchanges.

Finally, Mayor Chiang emphasized that the Taipei City Government will continue to support the development of LIFT and strengthen the relations between Taiwan and France through educational and cultural exchange, with the goal of making Taipei City the top choice for international partners. On September 10, 2025, Vice President Cadic personally visited LIFT to observe classroom learning and gain a direct understanding of the institution’s operations. During the visit, he expressed his appreciation for the institution’s progress and achievements, and both parties highlighted strong expectations for future collaboration.