The 2019 Convention for Overseas Compatriots in Central and South America was held November 15-17 in Sao Paolo, Brazil. It was attended by 125 representatives from nine countries who gave a voice to Taiwan. Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) Minister Wu Hsin-hsing took part through the whole event. At the Convention, consensus on nurturing youth, sustainable development of compatriot communities in Central and South America and other matters was reached.

In his speech at the opening ceremony on December 16, Minister Wu stated that as the structure of overseas communities around the world changes, there is insufficient willingness of youth to get involved in communities, and there is also pressure from Mainland China, presenting challenges for future overseas compatriot affairs work. He thanked overseas compatriots for their spirit of “Caring about Taiwan while overseas” and not becoming alienated from their country due to distance. He hopes that the Convention can become a communication platform for exchange of opinions between compatriots from Central and South American countries.

Mr. Her Jian-Gueng, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Brazil, stressed that overseas compatriots provide strong support to the government, in terms of promoting civil diplomacy. Mr. Shie-Lin, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the 2019 Convention for Overseas Compatriots in Central and South America, thanked Mr. Chuang Suo-hang, Vice Chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, and Mr. Chang Tsung-che, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sao Paulo, for giving keynote lectures on the China-US trade war and early Taiwanese immigrants in Brazil, respectively.

Attendees passed a joint declaration at the general discussion, selecting Argentina as the next host nation. The Convention flag was handed over to Argentina at the closing ceremony.