Premier Jiang Yi-huah today attended the closing ceremony of the 2013 National Conference for Hakka and Awards Ceremony for Contributions in Hakka, where he noted that several Hakka cultural and industrial endeavors have gradually borne fruit under the planning and promotion of the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) and subsidies from the government.
"These successes are something to be proud of," said Jiang. He expressed his gratitude to Hakka community leaders and young people for their efforts to pass on their heritage and encouraged the HAC staff to continue fostering the sustainable development of Hakka communities.
The HAC has organized four national Hakka conferences since 2009, and in every conference the Hakka people have further reinforced their solidarity, pooled their wisdom and sought improvement, the premier said.
"On issues which demand cross-ministerial cooperation, the Executive Yuan has always provided master planning, leadership and coordination in order to facilitate project implementation. For example, the Executive Yuan has raised the amount of funding and prolonged the time period of subsidies for Hakka artistic and literary groups in order to promote the Hakka culture," he noted.
"I highly respect and admire Taiwan's Hakka people and their culture. Last year, I attended a two-day, one-night Hakka cultural learning tour in which I saw the culture and business promoted by the HAC, such as specialty industries for fabric dyeing, tea leaves and persimmon," he noted. "I also witnessed the hospitality, diligence and genuineness of the Hakka people.
"Taiwan is a melting pot of the heirs of different ethnic groups that have amalgamated into a very diverse culture. This is a foundation for the prosperity of the nation and its peoples," he continued. "The government's policy is to allow the soul of every community to shine through and express itself.
"The Hakka language is the essence of the Hakka people, and it is where their soul resides. This language must be preserved and promoted. If this is achieved, Taiwan will surely become the Hakka capital of the world.
"Helping a language flourish requires consolidated power," the premier emphasized. "In Taiwan's open and liberal system, the Hakka people can unleash their strength and potential and project their influence throughout the world. This is the ideal goal of promoting Hakka culture."