At the inaugural Tang Prize Reception tonight at the National Palace Museum (NPM), Premier Jiang Yi-huah stated that he firmly believes the Tang Prize will become one of the world's premier awards in sustainable development, biopharmaceutical science, sinology, and rule of law alike.
The founding ideals of the Tang Prize—to encourage people to realize their potential by showing how great personages like statesmen, intellectuals and scientists contribute to society, and to encourage everyone to look at the world from a different perspective and make change possible—are very progressive, Jiang said.
Moreover, he noted the NPM is a building brimming with Chinese cultural history; the Tang Prize has its roots in that heritage; and the NPM has made great efforts to organize an exhibit to add luster to the award: "Tang Prize Week: An Exhibit of Select Painting and Calligraphy."
Jiang also said that he greatly admires the ambition and achievements of Dr. Yin Ye-liang, who founded the award in 2012, and anticipates the Tang Prize making great contributions to international and Taiwanese society.
Finally, the premier thanked the five laureates for coming from afar to receive their awards and wished resounding success to all the Tang Prize events scheduled for the coming days, including lectures by the award-winners and a concert by the Taiwan Philharmonic.
The five inaugural Tang Prize laureates are Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former prime minister of Norway, for sustainable development; Dr. James P. Allison of the United States and Dr. Tasuku Honjo of Japan for biopharmaceutical science; Dr. Yu Ying-shih of the U.S. for sinology; and former Justice Albert Louis (Albie) Sachs of South Africa for rule of law.