2025-8-25

Taiwan's Society of Safe-driving (SOS) traveled to Thailand on August 8 to take part in the 2025 Asia Cross Country Rally. On July 31, the team visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to attend a flag handover ceremony. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung presented the national flag to SOS President Chen He-huang. He wished the team and three accompanying firefighters a successful and safe trip.

In his remarks, Lin noted that nongovernmental organizations and corporations had made significant contributions to integrated diplomacy. He thanked them for elevating the Taiwanese brand internationally. Lin stressed that Taiwan was a force for good. “We continue to use APEC, the GCTF, and other platforms to cooperate with such nations as the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada to promote exchanges on disaster prevention and firefighting.” Lin said, “We also assist New Southbound partner countries in training firefighters.” He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was working with fire agencies to establish a specialist international disaster relief organization based in Taiwan to further enhance social resilience and global well-being.

The Asia Cross Country Rally is sanctioned by the International Automobile Federation. It is one of the biggest and most challenging cross-country rallies in the region. MOFA will continue to encourage Taiwanese civil society organizations to embody the spirit of everyone being a diplomat and showcase Taiwan’s vitality and values on the world stage.