On behalf of the ROC government, Premier Jiang Yi-huah welcomed guests from all over the world to the welcome dinner for the 22nd Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE) tonight.
"I hope that all our visitors from afar have a very rewarding trip and feel our citizens' enthusiasm as well as their love of books," he said.
"The book is an important medium of communication for humanity," he noted. "Not only does it allow people from every corner of the world to resonate with each other; it also enables dialogue with our ancestors. Reading and publishing magnify our spirits without limit, and this is exactly what makes reading so captivating.
"I am very happy there are so many book-loving friends in this world who are working to promote platforms for book exchanges. This year's TIBE, in addition to its customary activities, also features draft translations of 50 original Taiwanese works and the launch of a joint exhibition by independent bookstores, which are both quite significant.
"Last night was the final evening of the Lunar New Year vacation, and I spent it reading books at home. For a government official, this is a luxurious pleasure, and for a busy public servant, it is the best source of spiritual solace and relief."
The TIBE welcome dinner was held at Huashan Creative Park. Minister of Culture Lung Ying-tai and Taipei Book Fair Foundation Chair Doris Wang attended the event along with the premier.