The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston (TECO-Boston) held a reception to celebrate the 105th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan) hosted by Director-General and Mrs. Scott Lai at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel on the evening of October 5. More than 700 guests and dignitaries attended, including federal, state and local officials, Chinese community leaders, scholars, and students from Taiwan.
The ceremony opened with solo performances of the national anthems of the United States and the Republic of China as guests joined in. Director-General Lai addressed the audience by saying that 105 years ago, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the Founding Father of the Republic of China, established the very first republic in Asia, and that today, the ROC continues to serve as a beacon of hope and a model for Chinese people around the world. He noted that in 2016, Taiwan saw the election of the first-ever female president Dr. Tsai Ing-wen who is firmly committed to upholding and strengthening Taiwan’s democracy, economic development, and long-time friendship with the United States.
After Director-General Lai thanked guests for attending and his desire for stronger friendship with the U.S. well into the future, distinguished guests took to the stage to express their congratulatory wishes including Dr. Bob Billington, President of the Blackstone Valley Visitor Council of Rhode Island; State Representative George Sykes (NH), Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty (MA); Stephanie Noguera representing the Honorable Joseph Kennedy, III (MA); State Senator Eileen Donoghue (MA), and Paul Chan, President of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England. Mayor Petty presented a City of Worcester proclamation in which he declared October 10, 2016 as “Republic of China Day,” an announcement met with a big round of applause.
