Once again we got an opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with Dr. Juan Martin Uriburu who graduated from IDAS (2014) and IMCS (presently known as IMAS; 2008). Dr. Uriburu was visiting Taipei as a guest speaker in Chihlee University of Technology speaking on China-Latin American Relations. Dr. Uriburu’s master thesis was about Chinese-Argentine relationship and his doctorate dissertation was about China’s energy security and energy policy towards Argentina and Brazil (fossil fuels and biofuels [ethanol and biodiesel].

During his time in NCCU he held various positions such as, teaching International Law and was also research assistant to various professors in NCCU and IIR. Additionally, he was also teaching Spanish at the UPEL program at NCCU and in Chihlee University of Technology International Economic Integration and Commercial Spanish in 2004. He was also a Doctoral Fellow at Academia Sinica and was also elected president of the IDAS students union in 2012-2013. He was Executive Secretary of the CLAS (Center for Latin American Studies) at NCCU and also helped to co-found CEECAL (Center for Latin American Economy and Trade Studies) at Chihlee University of Technology. When asked how he can get some many opportunities during his studies, he suggested to talk to Professors and find those professors who share the same research interests with yourself and start approaching them for any such working opportunities, which will help in building up one’s professional portfolio which in turn will help in getting wonderful full time working opportunities.

One being asked about the implications of trade war between the USA and China on Latin America, he responded that it’s good for countries like Argentina. To support his statement he said, as because of trade war for example the soybeans which was being imported from China before to USA is now expensive, so post-trade war the soybeans from Argentina are cheaper and now they have been exporting in large quantity to USA. In the other way around, some products from USA to China which have not got expensive is now cheaper to procure from Argentina than USA.

Dr. Uriburu is very thankful to his current legal job which coincides with his academic interests he suggested to the current and future students to mix the passion of research interests together. Currently, he is also giving lecture at Georgetown University on China and Latin America relations where he covers both foreign and economic policies in the region.

To the current and future graduates he said Taiwan is full of opportunities just like any other place, the only thing is to find those opportunities with lot of enthusiasm.