Record number of dignitaries visit for Tsai's inauguration

2016/05/20

Nearly 700 dignitaries from 59 countries, including all 22 Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies, will attend the inauguration of President-elect Tsai Ing-wen May 20, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The number of foreign dignitaries scheduled to attend the presidential inauguration ceremony marks a record high, highlighting the strong relations between Taiwan and its partners across the world, the MOFA said May 19.

Many of the delegations are led by presidents, prime ministers, first ladies, foreign ministers and other high-ranking officials, the ministry said, while expressing its warm welcome to all of the guests as well as its appreciation to them for accepting the government’s invitation to the ceremony.

Six heads of state from the ROC’s diplomatic allies of Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru and Palau in the Asia-Pacific region, Paraguay in South America and Swaziland in Africa are scheduled to attend the inauguration.

Other envoys and senior officials who will be present include Archbishop Joseph Chennoth, apostolic nuncio of the Holy See to Japan; Andreas van Agt, former prime minister of the Netherlands; Dominique Riquet, a member of the European Parliament; and former U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.

The dignitaries will attend a welcoming party hosted by the MOFA, the presidential inauguration ceremony, a state banquet and other celebration activities. The ministry has also arranged for the foreign guests to visit major government agencies, commercial enterprises, infrastructure facilities and tourist attractions such as National Palace Museum and Taipei 101 to help them gain a broader understanding of Taiwan’s political, economic, social and cultural development.

In addition to the group tours, the MOFA has organized specialized meetings and site visits for foreign dignitaries concerning such areas as the economy and trade, health care, public safety, sports and recreation, tourism and vocational training in order to boost exchanges between Taiwan and allied and friendly nations across these fields. Some of these events will address the distinct socioeconomic development needs of the ROC’s diplomatic allies. The ministry added the government is committed to further upgrading and deepening its relations with allied and friendly nations going forward.

In addition, nearly 200 foreign journalists from countries including Australia, France, Japan, Russia, the U.S. will visit Taiwan to cover the inauguration ceremony.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=244858&ctNode=2194&mp=9)