The Orange County Taiwan American Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting at the Lyon Air Museum on October 19th, with nearly 500 political and business figures from Southern California in attendance. The theme of the evening was “007 Night of Flight,” with guests dressing up as Bond girls and 007, exploring planes that participated in the Normandy landings, cars once used by Hitler, and watching aircraft take off and land at the John Wayne Airport.
President of the Orange County Taiwan American Chamber of Commerce, Chen Qigeng, expressed that choosing the airport as the venue for the annual meeting symbolizes the chamber’s ambition to “rise step by step” like an airplane. Looking back at the past year, the chamber organized numerous events in support of the Republic of China government and promoted Taiwan, such as assisting in hosting the “Orange County Taiwan Traditional Week” series of activities and supporting “Angels’ Taiwan Day” to introduce Taiwan to mainstream American society.
The chamber also organized various business forums and social gatherings, including visits to Carlsbad Technology Inc., commonly known as the “Asian Starbucks” – the headquarters and logistics center of 85°C Bakery Cafe, and a wine-tasting event with the San Diego Taiwan Chambers of Commerce for the first time.
To expand business opportunities, Chen Qigeng led the chamber to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Taiwan Chain Franchise Promotion Association for international business cooperation. The chamber also signed cooperation agreements with the Overseas Career Center of National Chengchi University, the Industrial Innovation Center of National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan to enhance exchanges between the chamber and academia. In the future, the chamber aims to actively promote Taiwan-US business relations and create more opportunities for overseas internships and employment.
Jin Yingyu highly praised the contributions of the Taiwanese community to American society and the economy, urging Taiwanese expatriates to actively participate in the upcoming US elections to ensure that Taiwan’s voice is heard in Congress.
The Lyon museum houses a collection of historic military aircraft, and the venue’s setup for the event received praise from guests. Guests enjoyed gourmet food while watching airplanes take off. The evening also featured a range of entertainment programs, including museum tours, live band performances, singing by artists, and dance performances.
Consul General Ji Qingyao in Los Angeles acknowledged the significant influence of the Orange County Taiwan American Chamber of Commerce in Southern California, emphasizing its profound impact on promoting public diplomacy and enhancing Taiwan-US friendly relations. Chen Shixiu, the President of the North American Taiwan Chambers of Commerce Federation, commended the chamber’s contributions and looked forward to continuing to promote Taiwan’s international development.
Chen Shixiu traveled from Texas to attend the annual meeting, recognizing the indispensable role of the Orange County Taiwan American Chamber of Commerce in fostering US-Taiwan commercial relations. He praised the chamber’s longstanding efforts in the local business and mainstream society, emphasizing the importance of promoting Taiwan’s presence on the global stage. Chen Shixiu praised Chen Qigeng’s innovative thinking and leadership skills, calling for increased Taiwanese business participation in public diplomacy to elevate Taiwan’s international visibility.
Former President of the Orange County Taiwan American Chamber of Commerce, Chiu Chuihuang, shared his expectations for the chamber’s future. Currently boasting over 150 members across all age groups, he commended the innovative spirit of the younger generation within the chamber and believed that under Chen Qigeng’s leadership, the chamber will continue to grow and advocate for Taiwan’s international voice. Lin Cuiyun, Honorary Chairperson of the North American Taiwan Chambers of Commerce Federation, encouraged young members to actively engage in chamber activities to assist in elevating the chamber and Taiwan’s presence on the international stage. ◇