Remarks by the Vice President
Today is the first general session of the Preparatory Committee for the Centenary Celebrations of the Republic of China, and I would like to express my appreciation to all committee members for their enthusiastic participation.
President Ma has asked me to assemble members of the public and private sectors to form a preparatory task force and establish this preparatory committee to plan matters related to celebrating our nation's centenary.
I have met on a number of occasions with members of Taiwan's cultural, artistic, and media communities, along with historians. I have listened to their recommendations on themes and activities that should be held. Everyone agrees that the centenary offers an exciting opportunity to honor our forebears and educate the younger generations. Besides taking a look back and reviewing history, the event should highlight the nation's inclusivity and its embrace of the universal values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. The private sector should play an important role in these celebrations and the entire public will be encouraged to participate in the activities, which will highlight the vibrant development of civil society and the spirit of the times.
I held a number of meetings with members of the preparatory task force between May and October of this year. We decided to form a representative Preparatory Committee for the Centenary Celebrations of the ROC as a platform to exchange viewpoints. Meanwhile, the Republic of China Centenary Foundation is being established and will be responsible for promoting and carrying out related matters.
The main function of the Preparatory Committee for the Centenary Celebrations of the Republic of China is to exchange opinions. General sessions will be held on a regular basis to discuss a series of activities to mark the nation's centenary and to forge consensus in this regard. The Executive Yuan has formed a committee devoted to promoting centenary activities, with Minister without Portfolio Ovid Tzeng serving as convener. This committee will provide planning and coordination for the various activities to be held by government agencies and local governments.
In the course of asking people to join the Preparatory Committee, we have taken into consideration the focus of highlighting local characteristics and Taiwan's diverse culture. To this end, we not only invited the 25 city mayors and county magistrates to take part, but also representatives from the private sector, including the corporate, arts, cultural, sports, charity, labor, and women's communities, along with representatives from private groups, overseas compatriot representatives, and distinguished individuals from various sectors.
The main function of the Preparatory Committee is to discuss related affairs. To effectively carry out its resolutions, it was decided that the Republic of China Centenary Foundation should be established. The Foundation accepts donations from various sectors and will not be subject to the regulatory budgeting restrictions of other government agencies. This will aid in recruiting creative talent and enabling flexible operation.
The Foundation is currently in the process of being established and is expected to be formally operational in December. It will in principle be an independent organization. However, arrangements will be made for the Foundation to make reports to the Preparatory Committee and provide other advisory services when the Preparatory Committee convenes. The Foundation will also be responsible for promoting and executing various resolutions of the Preparatory Committee.
History tells us that the birth of the ROC 98 years ago inspired peoples throughout Asia to follow our example. We established an emerging democratic model in Asia and raised the curtain on freedom and democracy in the region. With a century under its belt, the ROC is valiantly moving into the 21st century. The challenges experienced in the course of realizing democracy have helped the people of Taiwan create the "Taiwan experience." We serve as the most representative example of democracy in Asia and have been recognized by the international community for our achievements.
Being asked by President Ma to form and chair the Preparatory Committee is a tremendous responsibility. I would like to thank all committee members for joining in this planning work. We will combine the resources of the government and private sectors to hold a series of celebratory activities designed with a historical and world perspective in mind, while also exhibiting a distinctly local flavor, thereby promoting the new Taiwan spirit. Let us work together in creating a beautiful vision for the nation and opening a brand new page in history.