The Northern California Chinese Alumni Association held its 42nd annual meeting in Foster City on February 7th, last Saturday. The event attracted nearly 400 alumni and representatives from various schools and associations, featuring a rich program and a lively atmosphere.
The annual meeting began with a dance performance titled “Sincere Interaction, Ordinary Heroes” by the association’s president, board members, and volunteers. President Xie Zaoxun reviewed the achievements of the past year under the theme of “Four Seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter,” including spring family outings, midsummer dances, Labor Day trips to Denmark City, participation in Chinatown parades, and assistance in community events such as National Day celebrations. He likened the annual meeting to a “winter” graduation ceremony for his term and thanked Vice President Huo Qinglai, Secretary Wei Ling, Treasurer Wu Guoting, and the team for their support and cooperation throughout the year, also introducing past presidents and board members.
The Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, Wu Zhixiang, expressed gratitude for Xie Zaoxun’s leadership over the past year in steering the association forward steadily. He congratulated the incoming president Ma Qianjun on assuming the service responsibility and looked forward to more exciting activities in the coming year. He also mentioned that Ambassador Feng Jitai’s sharing of his many years of diplomatic experience was a significant highlight of the evening, humorously noting that he had heard of Ambassador Feng as a role model among colleagues when he first entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the presidential handover ceremony, outgoing president Xie Zaoxun formally handed over the association’s affairs to the newly elected 43rd president, Ma Qianjun, with the supervision of former 35th president Pan Hailun witnessing this historic moment. Director Wu Zhixiang presented certificates of appreciation and congratulations on behalf of the Overseas Community Affairs Council, and Tsai Jiahua, Deputy Director of the South Bay Overseas Education Center, was responsible for reading out the documents.
In her address, Ma Qianjun thanked the support of past presidents and alumni and introduced the new executive team, including Vice President Zhang Meiling (who was represented by Shao Lirong, Vice President of the Jingyi Alumni Association in Taiwan), Secretary Hong Qifeng, and Treasurer Wei Meiling. She promised that the 43rd executive team “will definitely work hard” and hoped to bring more good activities to the alumni association in the coming year.
Ambassador Feng Jitai spoke on the topic of “Diplomatic Soft Power: Humor Amid Difficulties,” sharing insights from his diplomatic career. He recounted his involvement in important diplomatic work during the presidencies of several leaders, including a humorous anecdote about inviting Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor to lunch during her visit as a presenter at the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan in 1979, showcasing his ability to navigate diplomatic situations with humor.
Reflecting on Taiwan’s challenging position on the international stage, he highlighted the pressure faced by diplomatic personnel when countries severed ties with Taiwan and the Chinese Communist Party often demanded the transfer of properties belonging to the Republic of China, placing immense stress on asset management. In the case of the United States severing ties with Taiwan, diplomatic staff sold embassy properties to friendly countries and organizations for a nominal amount before the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, ensuring that assets belonging to the Republic of China could not be transferred to third parties, ultimately safeguarding critical assets such as Twin Oaks.
He also mentioned the difficult negotiations during his diplomatic posting in the Dominican Republic, where the counterparts constantly asked for money, requiring nearly a year of back-and-forth negotiations to reach acceptable terms while insisting on maintaining the commitment to Taiwan. Under long-term pressure, Ambassador Feng’s weight dropped from around 200 pounds to just over 150 pounds, showcasing the hardships of diplomatic work.
The speech lasted over an hour, filled with humor and liveliness, receiving continuous applause and becoming one of the highlights of the evening.