SPEECH/ADDRESS OF MECO CHAIRMAN SILVESTRE H. BELLO III TO THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE TAIWANESE COMPATRIOT ASSOCIATION IN THE PHILIPPINES ON  08 JANUARY 2023

Mr. Simon Su, the 13^th, 14^th, 15^th and 16^th President of TCAP, Mr. Andrew Liang, the 17^th and 18^th President of your Association, Mr. Chuang Ping Yang, the 17^th and 18^th Supervisor of TCAP; Ladies and Gentlemen; my dear friends of the Taiwanese Compatriot Association in the Philippines.

First, let me convey to you my and MECO’s greetings for the New Year. I am very much honored to be invited and be with you on your inauguration which marks the transition and handing over the presidency of your Association from the outgoing President to the incoming President.

Since the establishment of your Association or the TCAP on December 24, 2006 or 17 years ago, your organization that represents the Taiwanese based in the Philippines, has fostered mutual friendship and cooperation among all Taiwanese living in this country, as the Philippines, has in turn, assisted in safeguarding and protecting their rights and interests.

We commend your organization in promoting a healthy exchange of communication between our two people and the encouragement of TCAP on its members to integrate with the local society. This was achieved by the strong mutual understanding shared by Taiwan and the Philippines, such as donations of medical supplies to health and educational institutions and monetary donations for environmental disasters.

In the forefront of this healthy development is the TCAP which is the organization that promoted and facilitated the commercial, e-commerce and cultural exchanges of our two countries. Your Association has consistently pushed for Taiwanese investments in our country and supported the transfer of Taiwan’s advance technology to the Philippines agricultural and manufacturing sectors.

In plain terms, Taiwan and the Philippines mutually beneficial relations that have endured all these years were attained not only by cooperative efforts of our two peoples but more effectively by the strong support of your venerable Association.

And so as TCAP marks another milestone in its 16^th year anniversary celebration, we in MECO, and the country as a whole hope to continue helping all Taiwanese living or based in the Philippines, while it assists the development of the Philippines society and economy by way of poverty alleviation and stronger cooperation.

With COVID receding in many countries of the world, and, hopefully, resolution of international conflicts through diplomatic and peaceful means, we are hopeful that our mutual goals will be realized.

More power to TCAP.

Thank you.