Jaushieh Joseph Wu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
September 4, 2023
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Good evening and welcome to the National Concert Hall.
This year marks the birth centenary of the late President Lee Teng-hui. At the invitation of Annie Lee, Chairwoman of the Lee Teng-hui Foundation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is honored to serve as an advisor on the Pragmatic Diplomacy: 2023 Lee Teng-hui Memorial Concert. Tonight’s program is exceptional in its use of song and historical narrative to tell the story of our country’s diplomatic feats.
As we all know, President Lee carved a path that brought Taiwan to the world. He also introduced a brand-new approach to diplomatic strategy. Although Taiwan’s diplomatic circumstances became increasingly difficult in the 1970s, after becoming president, Lee Teng-hui forged a diplomatic profile that continues to be remarked upon to this day. Leveraging his flexibility and making good use of Taiwan’s substantial national power, President Lee not only conducted state visits to diplomatic allies but also met with important leaders in many other countries, using these encounters to build friendships. This laid a crucial foundation for Taiwan’s current diplomatic engagement.
To this day, Taiwan holds fast to the common values of democracy and freedom and continues to promote steadfast diplomacy on the international stage, winning friends in a spirit of mutual assistance for mutual benefit. To fulfill its international responsibilities, Taiwan actively contributes to global issues. Our worldwide influence and substantive diplomatic interests have expanded significantly, proving that our steady approach has earned meaningful support from like-minded and friendly countries. It also highlights the profound debt of gratitude we owe to President Lee for steering Taiwan along this diplomatic path. As we share the story told at tonight’s memorial concert with all of you, we look forward to further advancing the glorious mission embodied in Taiwan’s diplomatic endeavors.
In closing, I would like to thank our guests once again for your presence. I wish this concert great success, and wish you all an evening replete with musical charm.