New Southbound Policy Portal

Six dragon boats were donated April 17 to the U.S. state of Rhode Island, underscoring Taiwan’s commitment to deepening people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two sides, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
Co-ordinated by the MOFA, the donation was offered to support the expansion of the annual Rhode Island Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Day Festival. It was presented by Deputy Foreign Minister Hsu Szu-chien and accepted on behalf of the people of Rhode Island by Lt. Gov. Daniel McKee at a ceremony in Taipei City.
 
According to Hsu, Taiwan and Rhode Island enjoy robust economic ties, with Taiwan the U.S. state’s fifth largest export market in Asia. It is anticipated that they will strengthen this mutually beneficial partnership going forward across such fields as biomedical engineering, green energy, investment and trade, he said.
 
Offered ahead of the 20th edition of the festival later this year, the donation also comes as Taiwan and the U.S. mark the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA40), Hsu said. The recent TRA40 celebrations and dragon boat donation spotlight the thriving Taiwan-U.S. friendship, he added.
 
Echoing Hsu’s remarks, McKee said Rhode Island looks forward to bolstering ties with Taiwan in areas spanning culture, the economy, education and health for the benefit of the people of both sides.
 
First held in 2000, the 20th Rhode Island Dragon Boat Races and Taiwan Day Festival is set to take place Sept. 7. The popular annual event offers insights into the nation’s customs and traditions through activities including food markets and cultural performances, according to the MOFA. (CPY-E)
 
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw