Taipei, Aug. 15 (CNA) The government will begin a project next year aimed at opening eight new cultural centers abroad by 2014, Council of Cultural Affairs (CCA) Minister Emile Sheng indicated Monday, saying they would be part of Taiwan's effort to "export culture."

Sheng said exporting Taiwan's culture has been listed as the top priority for the CCA and the planned Ministry of Cultural Affairs, which is scheduled to be inaugurated Jan. 1, 2012.

Currently, Taiwan has cultural centers in New York, Paris and Tokyo. The CCA will set up three others in overseas locations next year, and another five in the following two years, the minister said.

Sheng did not disclose where the three new cultural centers would be located. He said only that they would be built in "important areas or countries."

Asked whether such a facility would be opened in China, Sheng said it would but that the government would contract private organizations to take charge of the project.

(By Amy Huang and Elizabeth Hsu) enditem/ls