President Ma Ying-jeou on the morning of December 11 attended the third general meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the Centenary Celebrations of the Republic of China. The president expressed his hopes that the plans being made by all the preparatory committee's members will show the world the freedom of speech, democracy, and pluralism that have been achieved in the ROC.
The president remarked that he formally announced the founding of the Preparatory Committee for the Centenary Celebrations of the Republic of China during celebrations marking Double Tenth National Day last year. The president invited Vice President Vincent C. Siew to head the committee and called on government agencies at all levels and the private sector to pool their resources in planning a series of celebratory activities.
The president commented that the nation and its people have together experienced much hardship, frustration, and pain since the central government relocated from mainland China to Taiwan in 1949. Over this time, the ROC has received assistance from the United States, pushed ahead with local elections despite uncertainties caused by the Korean War, and boosted the status of women by abolishing polygamy and the so-called “foster daughter system” (i.e. the adoption of girls as child brides, maids, or chattel slaves). Many people played a part in these milestone achievements, which opened the door to Taiwan's economic miracle and laid the foundation for a quiet but monumentally significant political miracle. Progress in these areas has put Taiwan on the leading edge of social progress in the ethnic Chinese world, the president said.
President Ma pointed out that Taiwan received American aid decades ago, but transformed from a recipient into a provider of foreign aid as its economy gained steam. The number of children abroad benefiting from financial sponsorship by people in Taiwan now exceeds 1% of Taiwan's population, and 8% of people here donate blood. Meanwhile, Taiwan is implementing the 630 Project in Nauru and is providing solar lamps to allies Burkina Faso and the Solomon Islands, so Taiwan's high technology is now a source of aid to other countries. President Ma also pointed out that Ms. Chen Shu-chu was included by Time Magazine on its list of the 100 Most Influential People who affect our world. This distinction brought worldwide attention to the compassion of Ms. Chen and Taiwan, he said, but many other charitable activities undertaken here go unnoticed. Those engaged in charity work, however, provide service to society without seeking fame, thereby helping society to become a better place, he said.
President Ma mentioned that the logo for the ROC's centenary was formally unveiled on March 29 of this year, and huge celebrations were later held in Taipei on National Day, while the 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition has tallied over 1.6 million visits since the event kicked off in November. The president remarked that the number of tourists visiting Taiwan has grown rapidly over the past year, and the Tourism Bureau just welcomed the five millionth visitor at the end of November, which is a record for incoming tourists in a year. He also noted that Canada and the European Union in recent days have approved visa-free entry for ROC nationals, bringing to 96 the number of countries or areas that have included Taiwan in their visa-waiver programs. Another 20 countries or areas are presently considering granting visa-exemption status to ROC passport holders, and he expects that next year during the nation's centenary the number of countries granting visa-waiver status will break 100.
President Ma said he is pleased to see Taiwan's high level of development in so many areas, and stated that the ROC will make its presence even better known throughout the world by vigorously acting on the international stage as a peacemaker, provider of humanitarian aid, promoter of cultural ties, and creator of new technologies and business opportunities.
After the president concluded his remarks, Vice President Siew addressed the gathering in his capacity as chairman of the preparatory committee. He stated that while the ROC has faced an arduous route over its first 100 years, its accomplishments have been monumental.
Vice President Siew explained that next year's celebratory activities will revolve around three main themes, namely having the public interpret the nation's history, enabling the world to see Taiwan, and marching hand-in-hand towards the future. In addition to the preparation of two books on the history of the ROC, there will also be seminars and conferences, as well as a wide variety of other activities to be held by government and private-sector organizations. At the same time, the centenary celebrations will be further enhanced by a number of major international events, including the ongoing Taipei International Flora Exposition, the 2011 International Design Alliance Congress, the 2011 International Band Festival, and the 2011 International Press Institute World Congress. Meanwhile, a carnival will be held on National Day. The year's activities taken as a whole will be tantamount to a Taiwan Expo, said the vice president, who expressed hope that the events will spark both tourism as well as cultural and creative industries, thereby boosting Taiwan's international visibility. He said that a big national celebration like this, in which everyone participates, will foster social cohesion and a sense of national identity.
Vice President Siew also introduced the following five new members of the committee: Kenneth C.M. Lo (Chairman, Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce); Lu Chin-hsiang (President, Taiwan District of Kiwanis International); Tung Jui-yang (Chairman, Taiwan chapter of Lions Clubs International); Kang Yi-shen (President-Director General, Taiwan Rotary Clubs Association); and Chen Shih-ming (President, China Youth Career Development Association Headquarters). The vice president welcomed the new members and thanked the other committee members for their efforts over the past year and more.
Vice President Siew stated that the celebrations to mark the nation's centenary will start on December 31 of this year as Taiwan welcomes in the New Year. He said he hopes everyone will join the festivities and embark in unity upon the nation's second century.