On May 20th, Taiwan’s President-elect Lai Ching-te will be inaugurated as the 16th President of the Republic of China. The preparations for the presidential and vice-presidential inauguration ceremony were announced today by the inauguration committee. The visual design of the inauguration ceremony symbolizes freedom and democracy, intertwining the shape and imagery of Taiwan, showcasing various ethnicities, generations, and professions coming together to weave the chapter of democracy on the land of freedom.
The committee revealed that the ceremony will be hosted by Liu Chenxi, a 28-year-old who is known as the “academic bilingual sweetheart anchor,” alongside Liu Jiezhong, acclaimed as a “zero-negative host.” The national banquet will be co-hosted by spokesperson Guo Yahui from the 2024 Lai Ching-te campaign office and Brazilian-Taiwanese male model Dai Kaiwen.
The theme of the inauguration ceremony is “Weaving Taiwan, Moving Democracy Forward,” symbolizing Taiwan’s continuous progress towards democracy on the foundation of freedom, uniting various people with different perspectives and values to support each other in society. The chosen venue for the inauguration banquet coincides with the Tainan 400 event this year, highlighting Taiwan’s diverse and rich culinary culture with unique and heritage-conveying symbolism.
The chief visual designer, Yan Bojun, explained that this year’s design utilizes clean and simple graphics in four colors representing freedom, democracy, confidence, and friendliness. The intertwining lines symbolize “Taiwan’s interweaving,” illustrating how people from different professions and values collide and support each other in Taiwanese society. Additionally, the inauguration souvenirs include a dual-use fisherman’s hat, towel, national emblem pendant, badge, and water. The badges feature the portraits of the President and Vice President, as well as symbols representing “dog faction” and “cat faction,” symbolizing diverse perspectives coexisting harmoniously in Taiwan, showcasing its multifaceted identity.
Yan Bojun elaborated that the symbols for the national banquet are centered around the character for “person,” which intertwine to create a society of democratic common good, fostering a belief in freedom, peace, and a vision for a sustainable world.
During the ceremony, host Liu Chenxi and Liu Jiezhong introduced themselves in fluent English, demonstrating excellent language skills. Guest host Dai Kaiwen spontaneously sang a Taiwanese song, embodying the spirit of loving Taiwan and enhancing the atmosphere at the event.
Guo Yahui introduced that the inauguration ceremony will feature “3 innovations, 3 segments, and 9 themes,” highlighting performances such as Acapella, Taiwanese and Hakka rap performances, and a concert-style stage, aiming to offer the public a lively and creative experience. The program includes 9 themes incorporating keywords such as “joy,” “vitality,” “freedom,” “resilience,” “hip-hop,” “harmony,” “melody,” “unity,” and “confidence,” representing various aspects of Taiwanese culture.
Regarding the performance segment at the inauguration banquet, Guo Yahui revealed that renowned singer Xie Mingyou will perform classic songs like “Wutiaoho-Hon-jade,” and “Tainan Tune,” adding local flavor to the event. The young warriors’ children’s choir will present a collaborative performance with international touring cellist Guo Qianzhe, breaking traditional musical boundaries. Lastly, Tainan native Li Zhuxin will perform classic songs in both Mandarin and Taiwanese, using the diversity of music to convey Taiwanese culture in a multitude of forms.
Guo Yahui teased that there are still two surprise elements yet to be announced for the inauguration events. The press conference today was attended by Weng Shihao, Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party Central Headquarters; Li Houqing, Secretary-General of the Cultural Association; Huang Jinghui, Deputy Secretary-General of the Cultural Association; and guest performer Teacher Zhou Zicong, all joining in the grand occasion.
Guo Yahui emphasized that the inauguration ceremony and banquet are by invitation only, but will be fully broadcast live. A “Freedom Viewing Area” will be set up at the intersection of Ketagalan Boulevard and Park Road, welcoming the public to witness this crucial moment of Taiwan’s democratic progress. Stay tuned for further updates on the inauguration activities.