Representatives of the Faculty of Philology visited Hong Kong and Taiwan

In October 2016 Authorities of the Faculty of Philology and the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Jagiellonian University paid an official visit to academic institutions in Hong Kong and Taiwan. At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, the Dean of Faculty of Philology - Prof. dr hab. Elżbieta Górska, the Vice-Dean of Faculty of Philology - Prof. of JU, dr hab. Władysław Witalisz, the Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies - Prof. dr hab. Barbara Michalak-Pikulska and sinologist-linguist from the Department of Japanese studies and Sinology - Prof. of JU, dr hab. Ewa Zajdler took part in the ceremony of the National Day of the Republic of China in Taiwan (Double Ten Day). They congratulated the current Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chuan and highlighted the importance of the cooperation between the Sinology scholars in Cracow and the academic institutions in Taiwan.

In the presence of Prof. dr hab. Elżbieta Górska, who represented Prof. dr hab. Zdzisław Pietrzyk - the Director of the Jagiellonian Library, Prof. Tseng Shu-Hsien - the General Director of National Central Library in Taiwan and Center for Chinese Studies signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Jagiellonian Library. By means of developing Sinology within the Faculty of Philology the cooperation between the Jagiellonian University with the National Central Library has become realised. In May 2016, the Taiwan Resource Center for Chinese Studies with almost a thousand of books was opened. Special Resources of NCL and other scientific resources are available for users of the Jagiellonian Library (http://www.ncl.edu.tw/information_236_6964.html).

The Delegation of the Faculty of Philology had the opportunity to see the impressive library oif old books and engravings, preserved meticulously in theresources of NCL and CCS. They also visited the section of rare volumes and the exhibition "金聲玉振 Golden Sound and Jade Vibrations - ancient Confucian books" (金聲玉振儒家古籍文獻展).

During many official and unofficial meetings with representatives of universities and institutions, i.e. Fu Jen Catholic University, National Taiwan Normal University and National Taipei University (university authorities, faculty authorities and representatives of sections for foreign affairs), already existing forms of cooperation were deepened and new forms of cooperation were created. Both sides now have opportunities for research cooperation, scientific development and intercultural cooperation.

The separate part of the official trip of the delegation of the Faculty of the Philology was the visit to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Prof. David C.S. Li - the new Director of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies hinted at the possibility of establishing common projects in scope of instruction and research.