News & Events >> 2007

Director General Wu Invited to Speak at Clemson University

January 30, 2007

On January 23, 2007, Director General R.C. Wu of TECO Atlanta, accompanied by Press Division Director Stephen Chang, Commercial Division Director Jeremy Shen, TECO Cultural Center Director Jack Huang, Senior Consular Officer Robin Cheng, Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta President Joe Tu, Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commissioner Henry Lee, and President of Color Imaging Inc. Dr. Sue-ling Wang, traveled to Anderson, South Carolina, the home of Clemson University.

Mr. Wu was invited by Dr. Robert Becker of the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs of Clemson University to participate in a panel discussion and reception address. The TECO delegation engaged in the panel discussion where Dr. Wang expressed his opinions on Cross Strait Relations, stating strong confidence in Taiwan and it’s role in the world’s acceptance of China (PRC). He expressed that the global community should treat Taiwan as an asset to their economic and political interests in the East Asia region and to fail to do so would bring catastrophic results. Vice Provost of International Affairs and Professor of Political Science at Clemson University, James P. Cross also joined in relevant discussion with Mr. Wu and the delegation.

After the discussions, the group headed to a reception in the Self Auditorium where Mr. Wu addressed an audience of 100 plus scholars and students. Mr. Wu’s speech was centered on Cross Strait relations and stayed close to the theme of the earlier panel discussion. He stated that Taiwan is a good example for China’s progress and integration into the mainstream values of our global society. He stressed that Taiwan has traveled the road of democracy and experienced the struggle of modernization that now lies before China, as a leading nation in the world economy. Taiwan can lead the way to smooth transition, but the PRC must recognize the sovereign right of the Taiwanese people to choose their government. He proposed that it is in China’s best interest to refrain from interference in Taiwan’s diplomacy if the PRC has any aspirations of reunification for the future.

吳榮泉處長日前與亞特蘭大僑界人士多人組團，應邀訪問南卡羅萊納州克里蒙遜大學(Clemson University)，除了拜會該校副校長廓羅斯(James Cross)及與該校教授舉行圓桌會談外，吳處長並公開演講；雙方也就中文教學等方面的合作計畫達成共識。

吳榮泉等一行曾與該校「舒爾曼政治及國際關係研究所」(Strom Thurmond Institute)所長貝克博士（Dr. Robert Becker）所率領的十多位相關系所教授會談。與會人士分別就中國崛起對台、美、中關係及世界局勢的影響、台灣現階段經貿發展以及中國經濟成長所面臨的問題等議題，廣泛交換意見。因為業務關係需要經常往來兩岸的王德，更以他的親身經驗向與會學者提供他對中國經濟發展的第一手觀察；涂常雄、陳獻士及李豐隆等人也分別就本身的專業領域，提出他們對相關議題的看法。

吳榮泉隨後在舒爾曼研究所大演講廳以「台灣之發展成就及在中國崛起過程中所扮演的積極角色」為題發表演講，向該校師生說明台灣經貿發展過程，以及台商在中國投資對中國經濟崛起過程中的積極貢獻。

來自台灣的李武忠教授居間牽線促成這一次學術訪問活動。他說，十幾年前台灣許多學生在該校留學，台灣媒體工作者趙少康即是自該校畢業。台北經文處此次組團來訪，繼續了台灣與該校中斷多年的交流合作。為了增進克蘭生大學師生對台灣的認識，經文處新聞組在訪問一周前就開始在該校舉辦「台灣風情畫」海報展，展出有關台灣風土民情的系列圖片，以進一步增進該校師生對台灣的瞭解。

Rev 2/15/08