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President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Chen Chien-jen attended the 2017 National Day Reception at the Taipei Guest House on the evening of October 10, celebrating the Republic of China's 106th birthday with guests from home and abroad.
The theme of this year's reception was "Better Taiwan." Among the distinguished guests from Taiwan's diplomatic allies were Tuvalu's Prime Minister Enele Sosene Sopoaga and his wife, Republic of Honduras Vice President Ava Rossana Guevara Pinto and her husband, Saint Lucia's Senate President Andy Daniel and Speaker of the House of Assembly Leonne Theodore-John, and Paraguay President of the Supreme Court of Justice Luis Maria Benitez Riera. President Tsai and Vice President Chen cordially exchanged greetings with visitors from a variety of countries, while Premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Minister of Foreign Affairs David T. Lee (李大維) and his wife were also in attendance.
The reception featured traditional cuisine from all parts of Taiwan, as well as Asian, Western, halal, and vegetarian dishes. Vice President Chen led Prime Minister Sopoaga and his wife to booths serving kaoliang liquor from Kinmen and Matsu, as well as others representing Din Tai Fung and Wu-Mu noodles. In addition to receiving an introduction to Taiwanese delicacies, the guests also tried some Kinmen kaoliang, Matsu kaoliang, steamed dumplings, gua bao (a Taiwan-style hamburger), and Matsu old wine noodles. When the president arrived later she also joined the reception, and after trying some bubble tea gave a thumbs-up to express approval.
Performances were provided at this year's reception by the seasoned performers of the Niko Sesshi Girls Band and a troupe from the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts that has toured all over the world. President Tsai, Vice President Chen, and Prime Minister Sopoaga and his wife also took a pleasant stroll to a pond-side stage to watch the performances. The atmosphere was decidedly upbeat as hosts and guests enjoyed themselves immensely.
