President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) speaking at the 56th Orient and South East Asia Lions (OSEAL) Forum on Saturday in Kaohsiung.

Kaohsiung, Nov. 18 (CNA) The 56th annual meeting of the Orient and South East Asia Lions (OSEAL) is currently underway in Kaohsiung City, southern Taiwan, where an estimated 20,000 members of local Lions clubs in Taiwan and eight nearby regions are in attendance.

The four-day forum kicked off on Friday and coincides with the centennial of the Lions Clubs International, which was founded in 1917.

In his welcome message, Forum Chairman Carl Chou (周榮家) said that it was a great honor for Taiwan to host the forum in such a special year, noting that "all the Lions in Taiwan are working to prepare unique love of Lions's 100 years."

He also invited all those attending the forum, from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Guam and the Philippines, to check out the food, culture and beautiful scenery in southern Taiwan.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) attended the gathering on Saturday, where she spoke highly of the Lions Clubs International, apolitical organization's commitment to innovation and reform.

In her speech, she talked about the path to innovation and reform that Taiwan has taken, asking Lions clubs members to invest in the country as Taiwan's economy continues to rebound and grow.

She specifically talked about how Kaohsiung City, where the forum is being hosted, has developed hard and soft infrastructure as well as industry under the leadership of Kaoshiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊).

(By Wang Shwu-fen and Kuan-lin Liu)
Enditem/AW