Pingtung County, April 6 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bien presided over a traditional coming-of-age ceremony held Friday at a school in Pingtung County.
Fifty-four youths from the county in southern Taiwan attended the ceremony before climbing to the top of Tawu Mountain to declare their adulthood.
Chen, who was accompanied by Pingtung County Governor Su Chia-chuan, arrived at Taiwu elementary school Friday morning for the ceremony to initiate the youths into their adulthood.
Speaking to the youths, President Chen noted that the ceremony has become one of the most famous "new rituals" in southern Taiwan through promotion by the Pingtung County government. He said he would like to expand this special ritual to a national level with the help of the National Cultural Association.
"Becoming an adult is an important milestone in one's life, and the process of walking toward adulthood is not an easy one," the president said. "It is the same for everyone as well as for our nation and society," he continued, stressing that "we need to help each other out hand-in-hand and heart-to-heart in order to overcome any obstacles we may face and reach our goals."
"The new government, faced with many challenges while making its first steps toward its goals, is willing to exert the strongest spirit to explore a better future for Taiwan and its people," Chen said.