To celebrate the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China, the Delegation of cultural and economic held a function on the evening of Oct. 10, 2011. More than 400 people attended the function.
The function was held at Bellevue Hotel in Bern. Important parliamentary members of Switzerland and representatives from governments, diplomatic missions, education, culture, media as well as business circles attended the function. Both Amb. Fadah Hsieh, Representative of the Delegation, and Hon. Ständerat Didier Berberat, Chairman of Taiwan Friendship Group of Swiss Parliament, addressed at the function. Chairman Berberat also asked Amb. Hsieh to transmit for the Group to President Ma Ying-Jeou a letter which reaffirmed the Group’s support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.
Amb. Hsieh stressed in his address that the Rep. of China was the first democratic republic in Asia and has thus inherited Qing dynasty’s legitimacy as an international person. It has also continued to carry over authentic Chinese culture which has been well preserved in Taiwan. He pointed out to the audience that the political and economic achievements of the ROC have earned worldwide recognition and the ROC’s success on ensuring freedom, democracy, economic equality for our people have become a pride for all Chinese in the world.
Amb. Hsieh said that during the ROC’s second century, the ROC will seek to build up Taiwan, deepen its roots in Asia and deploy globally, so that Taiwan can play a constructive role as a peacemaker, a promoter of cultural exchange, a humanitarian aid provider, a creator of new technologies and business opportunities, and a standard bearer of Chinese culture.
Amb. Hsieh also called upon his Swiss friends to support for Taiwan’s bid to become observers of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He also expressed his wish to see more cooperation happen between Switzerland and Taiwan. He described that kind of cooperation a “smart tie” by which both countries will add value on their integrated industrial supply chain and thereby enhance their competitiveness in international market.
