Chairman Wang; Distinguished Guests; Leading Medical Professionals; Friends from the Media; Ladies and Gentlemen:
Good morning to you all!
I am honored to be here today at the 2007 Asian Chapter Congress of the International Union of Angiology. I cannot help but feel genuine admiration standing here in front of the leading medical experts in angiology because you have come here from all over the world to share your experiences and knowledge in a common endeavor to advance medical research.
First of all, on behalf of the government and the 23 million people of Taiwan, I sincerely welcome all distinguished guests from afar and thank you for your participation. I wish this congress every success.
This is the first time that Taiwan has hosted the Asian Chapter Congress of the International Union of Angiology, which is not only indication of the international community's recognition of Taiwan's many medical accomplishments but also an honor and a privilege for Taiwan's 23 million people.
As you know, the Asian Chapter of the International Union of Angiology holds congresses biannually. At this year's congress, we are going to see mutual exchange on furthering research, offering the opportunity to discuss and explore new approaches to the treatment of angiogenic diseases. I firmly believe that we will see major contributions to the advancement of angiology, and that this conference will have far-reaching effects on improving the health and wellbeing of the entire human race.
This year's congress is hosted by the Taiwan Society for Vascular Surgery as well as other medical societies. You--the top angiologists from across the globe--have been invited to share the latest clinical data and the results of new academic research. So we can see this is a very important international medical event.
Although the Taiwan Society for Vascular Surgery was established only two years ago, under the outstanding leadership of Chairman Wang it has done an exceptional job in educating the public about angiogenic diseases and their prevention.
Although Taiwan is small, it has an abundant and precious resource in its medical practitioners and, in recent years, we have seen significant medical achievements and remarkable progress in health care standards.
Taiwan has never been reluctant to share its medical resources with the world. And we have often been among the first to send aid to disaster areas or assist medical relief efforts around the world. Taiwan does the utmost in fulfilling its responsibility and obligation as a global citizen.
It is regrettable that, to this day, Taiwan is still barred from the World Health Organization due to obstruction from China. As a result, Taiwan's 23 million people have been isolated and their health rights long neglected.
Taiwan, which has always been active in doing what it can for the international community, should not be repaid with such a penalty. Excluding Taiwan from the WHO is unreasonable and unfair to its 23 million people. I call on the international community to look more closely at this problem and support Taiwan's participation in the WHO, so as to safeguard the health rights of the Taiwan people.
I earnestly hope that medical exchange in the spirit of learning and sharing during the congress will spur medical advances worldwide and usher in a shining chapter in the history of medical development.
In closing, I would like to once again welcome your participation and take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for all the hard work of the organizers. I hope that this event will allow us to learn new things and that, through our combined work, people around the world will someday be delivered from disease and the ideal of a society free of unhealth will be realized.
Once again, I wish this congress every success and all distinguished guests and friends health and happiness. Thank you.