President Ma Ying-jeou on the morning of December 25 attended activities associated with the 2010 Chiayi City International Band Festival. Besides jointly hosting the ceremony with Chiayi City Mayor Huang Ming-Hui, the president also joined with local youth in an energetic dance performance, thus kicking off a series of events for this year's International Band Festival.
The president noted that this marks the third year he has attended the International Band Festival, and complimented Chiayi on its ability to hold such a big international event despite having a population of less than 300,000. This is an excellent way to promote the city's image on a worldwide scale, he said, and a perfect example of maximizing soft power through effective city management.
President Ma said that during his eight years as Taipei City mayor, he came to understand that while construction projects can make a city big, it is culture that makes a city great. He noted that Chiayi Mayor Huang has served for five years and has brought an international perspective and status to her city by holding the International Band Festival. In particular, Chiayi next year will host the 15th WASBE (World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles) Conference and the 20th Annual Chiayi City International Band Festival. These together will constitute one of the four major international events held here in celebration of the nation's centenary, he explained. Mayor Huang's efforts to promote culture in Chiayi have yielded enormous results, he said.
The president stated that he looks forward to seeing huge success with the International Band Festival this year and the events planned for next year. He also remarked that he hopes other counties and cities will learn from Chiayi's example and think of creative ways to highlight what makes them distinct from other places. This will enable foreigners to see that there is much more to Taiwan than just high-speed rail, Taipei 101, and the high-tech industry. Taiwan is home to a vibrant culture, he said, and called on everyone to exhibit this on the global stage so as to raise Taiwan's international profile and make an impression on people.
After concluding his remarks, the president led the bands from schools and clubs in a march through the streets, winning warm applause from onlookers. He then took to a podium, where he waved to the bands as they marched by.