Taiwan President Opens IPI World Congress

The International Press Institute’s Annual World Congress and 61st General Assembly in Taipei, Taiwan, began with an address by the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ma Ying-jeou. The President’s address emphasized his country’s commitment to humanitarian assistance, and its role as a force for peace in the region. It also emphasized the constructive steps Taiwan has taken to improve relations with mainland China and other countries around the world.

The 25-27 September IPI World Congress in Taiwan is bringing together over 250 participants from across the world.

"Since its founding, the IPI has been a staunch champion of press freedom", said the President. "In addition to promoting democracy around the world, it has fought tirelessly to defend the rights and improve the working conditions of news media professionals. IPI members are actually warriors for human dignity who do not shrink from addressing sensitive or controversial issues. They courageously criticize those who wield power, and they come to the aid of media colleagues who are subject to violence and intimidation"

The Congress theme - "The Asian Media Century? 21st Century Developments from New Technologies to Press Freedom" – focused attention on developments in Asia in general and East Asia in particular, with a special emphasis on cross-Strait relations, China’s rise to power, covering a nuclear North Korea, and topics more closely focused on press freedom and the media industry in general.

Visit our Resource Centre page to download the list of all Congress participants, photos and speeches, and to see the video packages from the Congress.