TAIPEI, Taiwan, (Taiwan Today) – Deputy Foreign Minister François Chih-chung Wu said Taiwanese night markets embody the country’s democratic spirit and social vitality, and the diversity of Taiwanese cuisine is the country’s major soft power.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said that Wu made the remarks while giving an interview to François-Régis Gaudry, host of “Très Très Bon” on the French TV channel Paris Premiere. The MOFA added that Gaudry, along with other staff members, was in Taiwan December 3-7 to film with culinary professionals and wholesale vendors of premium ingredients around the country.
During the interview, the deputy minister said that the Michelin Guide has enhanced Taiwan’s international visibility. He further expressed hope that the result of Gaudry’s filming, as well as his own interview, would provide a francophone audience with insight into Taiwan through a broader and varied perspective.
The French team visited Taipei City-based Binjiang Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market, Dihua Street and Wanhua District, as well as Tainan City and Yilan County, where they met with multiple food culture experts, including chefs and tea farmers. The special program on Taiwan is scheduled for February 2026, the MOFA said.