Commemorates Shinzo Abe’s Legacy on His 70th Birthday in Taiwan on Sept 20, 2024: BGF Honors Mark Chen with the Shinzo Abe Award

Sep 22, 2024Shinzo Abe Initiative for Peace and Security, News

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A banquet was held in Taipei on Friday (Sept. 20), organized by the Friends of Shinzo Abe Association in Taiwan, to celebrate the recipient of this year’s Shinzo Abe Award, established by the Boston Global Forum (BGF) to honor the former Japanese leader’s contributions to global peace and democracy.

This year’s recipient of the award is Dr. Mark Chen (陳唐山), who is the founding chair of the Friends of Shinzo Abe Association. Chen is also a former lawmaker, Tainan County Magistrate, and chair of the Prospect Foundation. He has been a consistent advocate for Taiwan’s sovereignty.

Chen was recognized for his “exemplary leadership” and significant contributions to fostering good relations between Taiwan and Japan over many years of public service, per BGF. His promotion of democratic values and defense of human rights in in line with Shinzo Abe’s (安倍晋三) vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Friday’s banquet also celebrated the Japanese leader’s life with a “70th Memorial Event” as he would have turned 70 this year, per BGF. Guests at the banquet received a Chinese translation of Abe’s memoirs, the first such translation to be published.

The annual award honors the Japanese leader’s legacy while also serving as a platform to celebrate leaders who contribute to the strengthening of democratic ideals and the protection of human rights in Asia and throughout the world, reported Newtalk.