The Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) recently held the 2017 Overseas Community Affairs Seminar (Europe, Africa and Latin America).  37 overseas community leaders from 26 countries in Europe, Africa and Central and South America returned to Taiwan for the event. The closing ceremony, held on August 25, was hosted by OCAC Vice Minister Roy Yuan-Rong Leu, accompanied by the Director General of the OCAC’s Department of Community Affairs Kuo Tah-Wen. Leu called on the attendees to be civic ambassadors for Taiwan to show the world Taiwan’s abundant soft power and global competitiveness.

Leu first conveyed the hope of President Tsai Ing-wen that overseas compatriots can effectively play the role of “spokesmen” for Taiwan in their place of residence, taking Taiwan out into the world to allow the world to view Taiwan’s efforts and its beauty, raising its profile worldwide and winning wide recognition. He said the OCAC will serve overseas compatriots as best as it can and work harder with regard to overseas community affairs work.

When compatriots from Taiwan or overseas and Taiwanese students have accidents abroad, local overseas compatriots often provide assistance to the victim and their family, Leu pointed out. He highly praised the effectiveness of the emergency assistance network established by compatriots overseas and thanked them for their long-term involvement in various social welfare activities.

Class leader Chen Liang-chen thanked the OCAC for its devotion to overseas compatriots. He encouraged the participants to share the OCAC’s dedication with the overseas community when they return home so compatriots can appreciate its efforts and will together work harder for Taiwan.