The foreign ministry says that this year’s National Day reception has been scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only the president, vice president, ministry heads, ambassadors, and representatives to Taiwan will be in attendance during the event, scheduled for Saturday evening. Foreign ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou said that other dignitaries will join the event virtually.
The foreign ministry says that Taiwan has achieved remarkable breakthroughs in its relations with friendly countries. The ministry says it is therefore meaningful for Taiwan to celebrate National Day with the international community, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of its efforts stopping COVID-19 and championing democracy and freedom.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministry says that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 1,300 overseas Taiwanese from 48 countries attended this year’s National Day celebrations. Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council Tung Chen-yuan thanked them for making the effort to return in the midst of a pandemic for the event.
News Source：RTI
Editor：Shirley Lin
Source: RTI
