President Ma Ying-jeou met with Dr. Nicholas B. Dirks, Vice President for the Arts and Sciences at Columbia University in New York City, on the morning of June 14 at the Presidential Office. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC, extended a cordial welcome to Mr. Dirks on his visit to Taiwan.
The president remarked that Columbia University is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. Established in 1754, Columbia over its 200-plus years of history has nurtured 94 Nobel Prize laureates, four winners of the National Medal of Science, four American presidents, two Supreme Court chief justices, 10 governors of New York State, and 14 mayors of New York City. The talent cultivated at the university, he said, has been highly influential in America's academic and political circles. In addition, students from over 100 countries attend Columbia University, the president pointed out, also citing that 250,000 alumni of the university are spread throughout over 150 nations. Some of the most prominent ethnic Chinese graduates from Columbia include Hu Shih (1891-1962, scholar), Fung Yu-lan (1895-1990, philosopher), and Tsiang Tingfu (1895-1965, diplomat), he commented, adding that ethnic Chinese scholars who have been affiliated with Columbia include the Nobel Prize recipient Tsung-Dao Lee (1926-, physicist), Wu Chien-Shiung (1912-1997, physicist), Hsia Chih-tsing (1921-, literary critic), Chien Shu (1926-, physicist), Chou Wen-chung (1923-, composer), and the noted diplomat V.K. Wellington Koo (1887-1985). All of these individuals have had a deep influence on the history and development of the ROC, he said.
President Ma commented that Mr. Dirks is in Taiwan to attend the "Taiwan in the 21st Century: Politics, Economy, and Society" academic seminar, which demonstrates that top notch American universities are not only focusing on issues associated with the development of cross-strait relations, but are also interested in the people, society, and culture of Taiwan. The president noted the enormous changes in Taiwan society over the past 60 years, adding that this is extremely worthy of research by domestic and foreign scholars. He added that next year marks the centenary of the ROC, which will be marked throughout the year by a series of cultural activities.
President Ma said he believes that the freedom, democracy, pluralism, and liberalism gradually embraced by Taiwan over the past 60 years has created a “Chinese culture with Taiwan characteristics.” This environment offers people ample room to demonstrate their wisdom and express their creativity, he said, adding that this carries important significance for both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and also for ethnic Chinese communities throughout the world. The president noted that some have commented that democracy is not suited for nations in the Far East, and in particular ethnic Chinese societies. However, Taiwan, he said, has put democracy into practice over the past several decades, enabling the seeds of democracy to take root here. While Taiwan still is a young democracy, the steps that it has taken have been closely watched in ethnic Chinese communities everywhere. In addition, former US President George W. Bush two years ago in a congratulatory message to President Ma on his election victory noted that "Taiwan is a beacon of democracy in Asia and the world." This proves that we should continue down this path, the president said. President Ma expressed his desire to see even more scholars in the future research the development of Taiwan.
Mr. Dirks was accompanied to the Presidential Office in the morning by Deputy Foreign Minister Lyushun Shen to meet President Ma. Also sitting in on the meeting was National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Chih-kung Liu.