Taiwan Minister Lin Chia-lung Awards AIT Deputy Director Lydia Liu with Distinguished Service Award.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-yung formally presented the "Diplomatic Friendship Medal" to Keaven Lai, the soon-to-retire deputy director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Taipei Office, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to deepening the substantive relations between Taiwan and the United States during her tenure. This award ceremony not only serves as an accolade to the individual achievements of foreign officials, but also highlights the friendly foundation of Taiwan-US interactions in various fields over the past few years.

As deputy director of the AIT, Lai actively promoted bilateral exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and the United States in diplomacy, security, trade, and culture. As the actual diplomatic representative office of the United States in Taiwan, the deputy director position plays a key role in coordinating official and non-official business between the two sides. Lai demonstrated excellent diplomatic communication skills during her tenure, serving as an indispensable bridge for smooth dialogue between the Taiwan government and the US administration, which has been beneficial in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and consolidating the two countries' partnership.

Upon receiving this honor, which symbolizes friendship and diplomatic recognition, Lai expressed her highest admiration for Taiwan's democracy and society. She stated that Taiwan is not only a beacon of democracy but also a model of an open society. This assessment reflects international society's affirmation of Taiwan's democratization process and echoes the shared core values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law between Taiwan and the United States. In the current complex and ever-changing international geopolitical landscape, the democratic alliance between Taiwan and the United States is particularly important.

The "Diplomatic Friendship Medal" is a prestigious honor conferred by the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to foreign individuals who have made outstanding contributions to promoting friendship and relations between Taiwan and other countries. This time, Lin Chia-yung personally presented the award to Lai, not only as a testament to her outstanding diplomatic career but also as a symbol of the continuous progress of Taiwan-US relations on a solid foundation. As Lai is set to retire and depart from Taiwan, the Taiwanese foreign team hopes to continue close cooperation with the new AIT team and deepen the global partnership between Taiwan and the United States in various areas.