The German Cultural Center has already got a 40-year old history in Taiwan. In 1963, the German Cultural Center Taipei was founded as the first European cultural institution in Taiwan, as the local representation of the Goethe-Institute in Taiwan.
As the local representative for the Goethe-Institute in Taiwan, the German Cultural Center has got many contacts to other organizations and institutions, many of which have influenced the German Cultural Center or have been influenced by the German Cultural Center. In the beginning, the German Cultural Center was strongly supported by the Sino-German Cultural and Economic Association. From the beginning the Center has had strong relations to the DAAD. Over the years, the German Trade Office and the German Institute were founded, taking over part of the responsibilities of the German Cultural Center. For many years the German Cultural Center was supported by the Steyler Mission, which also is responsible for prestigious education projects like the Catholic Fu Jen University. Today the German Cultural Center Taipei is an official part of the network of the Goethe-Institute.
Until 1981, the German Cultural Center was the only German institution in Taiwan. Therefore, the Center took on many additional tasks, like the issuing of visas, the promotion of trade contacts, the student counseling services and any kind of services for German nationals in Taiwan.
After the founding of the German Trade Office as the local representative for the Chamber of Foreign Trade (AHK) in the year 1981, all trades services, including legal affairs and visa for business trips, were transferred to this office. The permanent counseling service of the DAAD, set up in 2000, took over the student counseling services. Issuing of visas and consulate affairs were handed over to the German Institute after its establishment in the year 2000.
After the above mentioned institutions were founded over the years, the German Cultural Center finally managed to focus on its three main objectives, language promotion, cultural activities and information services. These three areas are the main objectives of any traditional Goethe-Institute worldwide.