On May 20, incoming President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Lai Ching-te and incoming Vice President Hsiao Mei-chin will take office. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated today that “73 foreign delegations totaling nearly 700 people will come to Taiwan to congratulate the 16th President and Vice President on their inauguration.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China issued a press release today, stating, “The election of the 16th President and Vice President of our country was successfully completed on January 13 and the inauguration ceremony will be held on May 20. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from January 13 to the inauguration ceremony, a total of 73 delegations and 687 people will come to Taiwan to express their congratulations to the President and Vice President-elect (including 22 delegations and 179 people congratulating before the inauguration ceremony, with an additional 51 delegations and 508 foreign guests attending the inauguration ceremony and related events on May 20).”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated that among the visiting dignitaries from diplomatic allies attending the inauguration ceremony, there are 8 delegations of heads of state, 1 delegation of vice heads of state, 1 delegation of foreign ministers, and 2 delegations of special envoys, including a special envoy designated by the Holy See. Important foreign dignitaries coming to Taiwan to offer congratulations include King Mswati III of Eswatini and Queen, President Hilda C. Heine and husband of the Marshall Islands, President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. and spouse of Palau.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also mentioned other important guests coming to extend their congratulations such as President Santiago Peña Palacios of Paraguay, Prime Minister John Briceño of Belize, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia, Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Feleti Penitala Teo of Tuvalu, Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Hanley of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martínez of Guatemala.
Furthermore, there will be non-diplomatic visitors from the United States, Canada, Singapore, as well as congratulatory delegations from the European Parliament Taiwan Friendship Group, members of parliament from the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and more.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan stated that the visiting guests will attend the state banquet hosted on the evening of May 19 and a welcome reception at the Taipei Guest House, in addition to the farewell ceremony for the outgoing President, the swearing-in ceremony of the incoming President and Vice President, congratulations, a celebratory event in front of the Presidential Office on the morning of May 20, and a state banquet at the Fleur de Chine Hotel in Tainan in the evening. President-elect Lai Ching-te and Vice President-elect Hsiao Mei-chin will also meet with various congratulatory delegations in separate sessions.