Premier Jiang Yi-huah praised Rotary International President Gary C.K. Huang as the "pride of Taiwan" when receiving him and his delegation at the Executive Yuan today.
Huang will serve as Rotary International president from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015. The premier stated that the election of a Taiwanese to lead an international organization is an honor shared by the entire citizenry and that being president of Rotary International is tantamount to being an ambassador-at-large. The ROC flag will be raised in the group's Chicago (U.S.) headquarters; in addition, the nation's flag will be raised and its anthem played during President Huang's official appearances at Rotary International events around the world.
"Huang's outstanding achievements have made the ROC shine in the international arena and merit our respect and honor," Jiang affirmed.
The premier pointed out that Rotary International is a very important charity organization in the international community, and that Rotarians adhere to the spirit of service, work for the good of society and give a helping hand to all those in need. As president of the Taiwan Rotary Clubs Association, Huang helped establish many branches islandwide. He is a highly respected role model for Rotarians, sincere with people and imbued with a passion for the common good, Jiang said.
The premier also noted that Rotary International's efforts in pushing for the elimination of polio have reaped great success in recent years. In the past, polio was a plague in many countries, but with the hard work of Rotarians, who have closely cooperated with the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and several other organizations to root out the virus, the number of countries affected by polio has fallen from 125 in 1988 to only three today—Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan—according to the latest reports. Rotary International has pledged to eradicate polio from the world by 2018; such an ambitious scheme has earned the organization and all its branches the respect of the world, Jiang said.
Built on the ideal of serving mankind, Rotary International—boasting more than 1.2 million members worldwide—has long been committed to improving health and eradicating poverty. Taiwan has the 13th-most Rotarians of any country, with 600-plus clubs and over 20,000 club members, whose per capita and aggregate donations rank No. 1 and No. 6 in Rotary International, respectively. Taiwan's Rotarians are devoted to domestic and international activities for the common good, frequently collaborating with the government in conducting various international events and actively assisting in rescue and relief efforts when natural disasters occur.