Diplomacy that Brings Real Benefits to People ... - Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta 駐亞特蘭大台北經濟文化辦事處

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Atlanta held a reception at the Georgia Aquarium on the evening of October 7^th to celebrate the 115^th anniversary of the Republic of China (Taiwan). This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Office has hosted a national day event at this renowned venue, which is home to Taiwan's whale sharks. Director-General Jared Lin, along with Mrs. Lin and all colleagues, joined nearly 300 people, including US federal, state, and local government officials and elected representatives, Consul-Generals from various countries stationed in Atlanta, business leaders, academics, and overseas Taiwanese, to celebrate the ROC’s birthday.

The reception began with Colors Presentation by four Taiwanese military cadets studying at The Citadel in South Carolina. Following this, Consular Officer Sherry Lee sang ROC’s national anthem, accompanied by Mrs. Lin and three Formosa Association of Student Cultural Ambassadors of Taiwan (FASCA). The Georgia Institute of Technology choir then sang the U.S. national anthem, symbolizing the close ties between Taiwan and the United States.

In his address, Director-General Lin focused on "Diplomacy that Brings Real Benefits to People," reviewing the achievements of cooperation between Taiwan and the United States and the six southeastern states in 2026. He stated that the Taiwan-U.S. partnership has continued to deepen over the past year, with Taiwan's economy growing steadily driven by global demand for high-tech industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI). The United States has also become one of Taiwan's most important trading partners. Regarding investment, Taiwan companies have announced investments exceeding US$300 billion in the U.S., with some investments located in the six southeastern states, thus creating more job opportunities and industrial cooperation.

Director-General Lin pointed out that practical partnership between Taiwan and six states—Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee—is deepened. The cooperation covers areas such as high-tech talent development, scholarships, Chinese language education, cultural exchange, research collaboration, and industrial investment. The scope of cooperation is gradually extending from the government-to-government engagement to those with universities, businesses, and local communities.

Director-General Lin also stated that the Office will continue to work “not only with governors and state governments, but also with counties, cities, chambers of commerce, schools, and businesses.” He added, “We want more business missions, stronger links between companies, deeper cooperation in AI, healthcare, aerospace, and disaster resilience, and more internships, scholarships, and student exchanges.” The most important goal of the bilateral partnership is to ensure that benefits reach ordinary people. “We want a student in Alabama to discover a new career through studying in Taiwan. We want a business in Georgia to find a new customer. We want a researcher in North Carolina to find a new partner. We want a manufacturer in Tennessee and Kentucky to strengthen its supply chain. We want a community in South Carolina to gain new investment and good jobs.”

Dignitaries including Congressman Hank Johnson, South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond, Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, and Chairman of Fulton County Board of Commissioners Robb Pitts, were invited to speak and congratulate the ROC on its National Day. Following this, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, and Mayor of Atlanta City Andre Dickens expressed their best wishes to the people of Taiwan through video messages.

The remarks are followed by Director-General and Mrs. Lin cutting the cake and raising a toast with the guests.

In addition to a variety of delicious dishes, "Xing Fu Tang" once again offered the popular bubble tea. China Airlines, EVA Air, Everest Textile USA, and Winmate also set up booths, showcasing strengths of Taiwanese businesses in aviation, textile, and electronics industries. The atmosphere at the event was lively and warm, with guests enjoying cuisine and gaining a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture and industrial development through exchanges.

Another highlight of the reception was a ticket raffle jointly organized by China Airlines and EVA Air. Hosted by Ms. Oanh Le, China Airlines' Atlanta Sales Manager, and Mr. Calvin Chen, EVA Air's General Manager, two lucky guests each won free round-trip tickets to Taipei, adding cheers and much joy to this year's National Day reception.