The 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival was lit last night (5th) in Taipei City. President Tsai Ing-wen (second from left), Premier Chen Chien-jen (first from left), and Taipei Mayor Jiang Wanan (front row, second from right) lit the lights on the same stage.

(File photo, photo by reporter Fang Bin)

[Reporter Chen Xinyu/Taipei Report] The 34th Taiwan Lantern Festival lit the main lights in Taipei last night (5th). Pointing out that Ke was placed on the edge of the stage, Jiang Wan'an said today (6th) that he "respects the arrangement of the Ministry of Communications." However, the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Communications issued a clarification this afternoon, pointing out that the list of VIPs was provided by the Beishi government.

The Tourism Bureau clarified that the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Communications respects the list of VIPs invited by the Taipei City Government and included all those listed in the government on the VIP list.

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The statement pointed out that in the main light-on ceremony last night, the five officials who turned on the lights were the President, the Premier, the Mayor of Taipei, the Minister of Transportation, and the Director of the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation. The Tourism Bureau and the Taipei City Government reached a consensus after full discussion, and nine foreign envoys, deputy ministers of the central government, legislators, former mayor Ke Wenzhe, and Taipei City Council Speaker Dai Xiqin were listed as the first row of distinguished guests.

The statement emphasized that the Taiwan Lantern Festival turns on the lights on the Lantern Festival every year. As usual, the President and the Premier are invited to attend. The municipal government invited distinguished guests to join in the event.

The statement pointed out that the 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival was jointly organized by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Communications and the Taipei City Government. In the past year, through the close communication and cooperation between the two parties to establish the preparatory organization, the Taiwan Lantern Festival was successfully launched on February 5. Thanks to the Taipei City Government Team support cooperation.

The statement pointed out that the Taiwan Lantern Festival is a national celebration. This year, the Tourism Bureau invited Japan, the United States, St. Christopher (St. Christopher) and Nevis, St. Lucia, Belize, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and other 9 foreign countries Diplomatic envoys participated in the event, and Taipei's local legislators and central ministries including the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Interior, and Hakka Committee were also invited to attend.

On the 6th, the chairman of the People's Party, Ke Wenzhe, led a party member of the Legislative Yuan to call on the Legislative Yuan You Xikun, and interviewed before the meeting.

(Photo by reporter Tu Jianrong)