Zhuo Rongtai stresses archive preservation vital for societal unity and progress

Premier Zhuó Róngtài attended the award ceremony held in Taipei on the 7th of this month for the 23rd Government Archives Management Gold File Award and Gold Quality Award, and delivered a keynote speech. He stressed that the completeness of the three major collection systems—archives, museums and libraries—is a key indicator of whether a nation has entered the ranks of advanced countries. He added that the proper preservation of a nation’s historical archives is not merely routine administrative work but an indispensable contribution to consolidating social consensus and uniting the people. His remarks both recognized the hard work of frontline archive staff and elevated archive preservation to the level of national governance and democratic deepening, prompting widespread discussion on historical memory and national identity.

In the framework of modern democratic governance, the management of agency archives has long moved beyond the simple filing and paper‑based preservation of the past, becoming a core pillar for government information disclosure and transparent administration. Over the past several decades Taiwan has undergone a profound transition from authoritarian rule to democratic openness; the establishment of the Archives Administration and the enactment of the Archives Act are important outcomes of that democratization process. Through systematic collection, organization and opening of archives, the public can examine the context in which past policies were formed, and scholars and researchers can use authentic historical records to reconstruct the original shape of previous political, economic and social development. The Gold File and Gold Quality Awards are intended to stimulate all levels of government to value archive management, raise awareness of the value of public‑sector archives, and ensure that the nation’s memory does not fade with time.

The three collection systems highlighted by Zhuó—archives, museums and libraries—constitute the three pillars of a nation’s cultural foundation and historical depth. Libraries preserve humanity’s accumulated knowledge, museums safeguard material culture and artistic treasures, and archives record the footprints of state operations and policy decisions. Together they support a country’s civic education, cultural transmission and capacity for historical reflection. When a nation can fully and unflinchingly preserve archives from all periods, it demonstrates the confidence to confront both past mistakes and achievements. Such an honest attitude toward history is the basis for building a rule‑of‑law society and democratic resilience.

From a social‑psychological and political‑science perspective, the disclosure and preservation of historical archives have far‑reaching effects on social cohesion. Taiwanese society is diverse and vibrant, yet differing historical memories and political positions sometimes lead to identity divisions. Zhuó noted that preserving national historical archives helps unite the people; the core implication is that only through objective, transparent and publicly assessable archives can all sectors engage in dialogue grounded in facts, thereby alleviating conflicts arising from information asymmetry or monopolization of historical interpretation. When citizens can collectively understand the nation’s journey, see the efforts and sacrifices of different generations for the land, tolerance and understanding can replace division, forging a stronger sense of national community.

Looking ahead, the wave of digitization and the proliferation of artificial‑intelligence technologies present both new opportunities and challenges for agency archive management. Traditional paper preservation is expanding to include electronic documents, multimedia material and the digital footprints of the big‑data era. Ensuring the authenticity, integrity and long‑term readability of these digital records, while balancing national security and personal privacy and further expanding open access, are issues that government departments must continuously refine. Zhuó’s speech was not only a commendation of the award‑winning agencies but also an important expectation for the entire civil service, urging the administrative team to become a solid bulwark that protects national memory and historical truth while advancing national development.

(Source: Central News Agency)