Taipei: Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung hosted a traditional Ghost Festival prayer ceremony in Taipei with international participation, marking a first for the event. Representatives from Taiwan's diplomatic allies, along with envoys from other friendly nations, joined the ceremony, showcasing a blend of cultural exchange and diplomatic engagement.
According to Focus Taiwan, the ceremony, which took place ahead of the Ghost Festival, included participation from envoys representing Taiwan's 12 diplomatic allies and 12 additional friendly countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) emphasized the significance of this event in a press release issued on Thursday.
The ceremony featured traditional offerings of flowers, fruit, and meat, complemented by contributions from the participating nations. The representatives from Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines brought snacks from their countries, while the United States and Canada contributed beer and maple syrup, respectively. Other offerings were made by St. Lucia, the Marshall Islands, Paraguay, Belize, Eswatini, and the United Kingdom.
Minister Lin presented attendees with green packages of Kuai Kuai, a popular Taiwanese corn snack. The name "Kuai Kuai" translates to "behave" or "be good," and the packages included auspicious messages wishing good fortune and peace for the recipients' families, as stated by MOFA.
The ministry highlighted the event's purpose of introducing foreign representatives to Taiwanese folk traditions while strengthening diplomatic relations with Taiwan's allies and like-minded partners.