President Ma Ying-jeou on the afternoon of October 9 at the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei attended a ceremony culminating the final leg of the Centennial Torch Relay in celebration of the nation's centenary. The president and Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission Minister Wu Ying-yi (吳英毅) jointly switched on the LED torches of representatives from cities throughout the world and then lit the centennial torches to symbolize that the ideals of democracy and freedom of Dr. Sun, the nation's founding father, are alive and being passed along to the next generation at home and abroad. The ceremony also sought to forge a common spirit among people in Taiwan and overseas compatriot communities.
The torch relay activity began on March 29 of this year, which was Huanghuagang Memorial Day. The first stop in the relay was in Honolulu, Hawaii, while the relay came to a climax today at the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Overseas compatriots from throughout the world were invited to the event to commemorate the 1911 Revolution and to celebrate the ROC's Double Tenth National Day. In remarks, President Ma said the revolution of 100 years ago helped forge a path for an entirely different Republic of China. In particular, the philosophies of Dr. Sun have gradually been realized since the ROC government moved to Taiwan. The president noted that we can proudly say that the ideals of freedom, democracy, and equitable distribution of wealth are being realized in Taiwan. Ultimately, what has been attained here has been worthy of the sacrifices and contributions made by Dr. Sun and the martyrs in the revolution, he stated.
President Ma remarked that as president of the ROC, he each day humbly and cautiously works to realize the philosophies espoused by Dr. Sun. The constitution that the nation formulated is the best means of putting into practice the ideals of Dr. Sun, he said, since the ROC Constitution has enabled the nation to gradually establish itself in an orderly manner via constitutional procedures.
The president stated that this year some 22,000 overseas compatriots have returned to Taiwan to celebrate the ROC's centenary. He expressed his hopes that everyone will witness the radiance and glory of the ROC over the past century, and at the same time will leave Taiwan with a pleasant impression.
Shortly afterwards, the president, accompanied by Premier Wu Dun-yih (吳敦義), Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), Judicial Yuan President Rai Hau-min(賴浩敏), Control Yuan President Wang Chien-shien (王建煊), and Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission Minister Wu, headed to the Taipei Arena to attend a reunion celebration held for overseas compatriots from around the world. The president, witnessed by representatives and torch-bearing teams from cities the world over, lit the torches and sang the national anthem of the ROC with guests and the rest of the audience, together celebrating the ROC prosperity.
In remarks to the crowd, President Ma praised the spirit of the overseas compatriots in their enthusiastic return to Taiwan to celebrate the nation's 100th birthday. This proves that overseas compatriots have been the most important source of support for the ROC over the decades, he said.
The president commented that the ROC on Taiwan has established a society characterized by freedom, democracy, and equitable distribution of wealth. The objective of this has been to realize the ideals of the nation's founding father. President Ma said he is delighted that we have almost accomplished this goal. He said that since taking office in May 2008, he has specially moved a bronze statue of Dr. Sun back to the Presidential Building’s Entrance Hall and that each day before starting work he bows in front of the statue to pay his respects. The president said he also thinks about to what degree he has been able to realize the wishes of Dr. Sun here. President Ma believes that this is a responsibility that each president has and is something that the head of state must ponder in daily work.
President Ma stated that the ROC has a long road ahead of it. Fortunately, he said, the seeds of democracy, freedom, and equitable distribution of wealth have been sown in Taiwan and are beginning to take root. The government will continue to work to truly fulfill the ideals with which Asia's first democratic republic was established. At the same time, he noted, the government will boldly promote development, social justice, education, environmental protection, cross-strait peace, and serve as a positive force in the international community. Realizing these visions will enable the ideals of Dr. Sun and the ROC Constitution to be fulfilled here. President Ma said he is confident that the descendants of the ethnic Chinese people will be able to establish a fully free and democratic nation that enjoys equitable distribution of wealth.