On July 15th, the newly appointed Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, Tom Chih-chiang Lee, arrived in New York to assume his new position. The following day, on July 16th, he wasted no time in visiting the overseas Chinese community, with his first stop being a visit to the New York Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, where he received a warm welcome.
Tom Chih-chiang Lee graduated from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature at National Cheng Kung University and later obtained a master’s degree in political science from National Taiwan University. Prior to his current appointment, he served as the Director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has also participated in the Diplomatic Training Programme at the University of Oxford in the UK, and held various positions such as Secretary at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of China in Liberia, Chief of the North American Affairs Coordination Committee, and Deputy Director General at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver.
The Chairman of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, Zhu Chaoran, warmly welcomed Lee’s visit, describing him as a seasoned professional diplomat with rich knowledge and experience. Zhu expressed his firm belief that under Lee’s leadership, the work of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York within the overseas Chinese community will make strides towards new achievements. He also expressed his hope that the office will continue to strengthen its connections with overseas Chinese, provide better services to them, and promote exchanges and cooperation between overseas Chinese communities and the Republic of China.
Lee expressed his gratitude for the longstanding support of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office and the Republic of China. He mentioned being moved by the sight of numerous flags of the Republic of China hanging on Mott Street in New York, which he found touching as a demonstration of support for Taiwan. He stated that his future mission is to enhance mutual connections, and provide better services to overseas Chinese and the communities that support Taiwan.
Accompanying Director Lee on his visit were Deputy Director Chang Li-hsien of the Economic and Cultural Office, among others.
Following his visit to the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, Director Lee, accompanied by Chairman Zhu Chaoran and Secretary Cai Wei-yi of the Association, proceeded to visit the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association in the Eastern United States, where he was warmly welcomed by Chairman Leong Hon Ban.