Taiwan’s government and people welcome the visit by Secretary General of Association of World Election Bodies Jonghyun Choe as proof of the country’s free and open democratic system, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jan. 8.
Choe is leading a delegation for the South Korea-based organization on a six-day fact-finding tour to observe Taiwan’s upcoming presidential and legislative elections. The trip will also encompass numerous events expected to facilitate exchanges with experts and officials from home and abroad.
His itinerary includes stops at the Central Election Commission and Taiwan Foundation for Democracy in Taipei City, political campaign rallies on Ketagalan Boulevard, and a polling station at Taipei Jinou Girls High School, as well as a visit to the CEC’s Election Center for ballot counting Jan. 11.
Other highlights are a workshop titled “Post-Election Outlook for Taiwan and Beyond: Stability or Uncertainty” and a donation ceremony. The former is organized by TFD in collaboration with the MOFA, Taipei-based Foundation for Scholarly Exchange, and U.S.-headquartered Foreign Policy Research Institute and Center for Strategic and International Studies, while the latter will be related to a donation from Taiwan to A-WEB.
Founded in 2013, A-WEB comprises 115 members from 106 countries and territories with the vision of fostering efficiency and effectiveness in conducting free, fair, peaceful, transparent, credible and participative elections worldwide through sustained cooperation at a global level. Taiwan joined the body under its official title “Taiwan, ROC” as one of the 100 founding members under a delegation led by then-CEC Chairwoman Chang Po-ya. (YCH-E)
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