MOFA commemorates late ROC diplomat Yang

2015/12/10

A retrospective exhibition celebrating the achievements of late ROC diplomat Yang Hsi-kun in growing the country’s international ties was launched Dec. 9 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei City.

Featuring an array of historical documents, medals and photos from the MOFA and Yang family archives, the commemorative event is organized by the ministry in conjunction with National Central Library and Central News Agency.

MOFA Minister David Lin lauded the former ambassador to South Africa, aka Mr. Africa, for strengthening the nation’s presence on the continent. He also praised the exhibition for doing justice to Yang’s diplomatic legacy.

“Yang truly spearheaded the ROC’s international outreach in the second half of the 20th century and foresaw the rise of a new Africa while serving on the U.N. Trusteeship Council,” Lin said during his opening remarks at the ceremony.

“Bilateral tie-ups such as the agricultural cooperative program Vanguard Project and the Committee of International Technical Cooperation were founded under his supervision, which helped the ROC establish diplomatic relations with the many African countries that achieved independence in the 1960s.”

The strong rapport Yang enjoyed with African partners over a decade paid dividends in terms of friendship and support spanning a wide range of international affairs, Lin added.

After playing a significant role in the government’s negotiations with the U.S. over future bilateral ties, as well as U.S. Congress’s ratification of the Taiwan Relations Act, Yang was appointed in 1979 as the ROC’s ambassador to South Africa. He was awarded honorary citizenship by Pretoria in appreciation of his successful 10-year term.

“Yang was a man for all seasons and remains a role model for ROC diplomats,” Lin said. “It is a privilege to have worked alongside him, and I believe this exhibition will help keep his memory alive for generations to come.”

“At the Vanguard of Diplomacy: A Retrospective Exhibition on H.E. Ambassador Yang Hsi-kun” runs until Dec. 21 at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=239988&ctNode=2194&mp=9)