Monday, February 6, 2017 Headline News the first time in 11 years. In the 2017 “As the only democracy in the edition, Taiwan retained a top rating Chinese-speaking world, Taiwan has ROC President, Premier of 1 in political rights while improving a unique geography, mentality and seek New Year blessings at from 2 to 1 in civil liberties. For the identity,” it added. temples around Taiwan annual report, nations are ranked on ROC President Tsai Ing-wen and a scale of 1 to 7 in the two categories, Local Activities Premier Lin Chuan visited temples with 1 being the freest and 7 the least Taiwan’s participation in around the nation where they sought free. “Taiwan’s civil liberties rating Brussels Holiday Fair a blessings for Taiwan on the improved from 2 to 1 due to media big success independence and academic beginning of the Lunar New Year. On Taiwan participated in the Brussels freedom in recent years, including in 31 January, the fourth day of the Holiday Fair from 2 to 5 February, in media coverage of the 2016 Lunar New Year, Lin visited temples the hope of enthusing the Belgian elections,” the report said. According in Chiayi, Yunlin, Yuanlin, Changhua audience to go visit Taiwan. Over 40 to Freedom House, Taiwan’s and Taichung. The fourth day of the journalists and tourism professionals aggregate score in the global Lunar New Year is a day to welcome attended the press event in the rankings has increased steadily over the gods, Lin said, adding that he Taiwan booth on 2 February, where the past years, from 88 out of 100 in prayed for the peace and prosperity they were welcomed by Dr. Wanli the 2015 survey to 89 in 2016 and 91 of Taiwan and its people. The Wang, Deputy Representative from this year. In the latest report, the premier also handed out a selection the Taipei Representative Office in nation ranked 26th globally and of red envelopes, a symbol of good the EU and Belgium. fortune, to temple visitors. second in Asia, behind only Japan’s score of 96. This aggregate rating is calculated from its performance across 25 indicators such as electoral process, functioning of government and rule of law. Miscellaneous News President Tsai also visited several Taiwan named among top Visitors enjoyed calligraphy temples since the start of the New 10 countries to visit in demonstrations, a tea ceremony, Year, drawing massive crowds keen 2017 Taiwanese single malt whisky tasting, to receive a lucky red envelope from Taiwan was recently named by the colorful appearance of a folkloric the first female president of Taiwan. UK-based travel guidebook publisher figure, and the comfort of China She expressed her hopes and good Rough Guides as one of the top 10 Airlines’ brand new business cabin wishes for the success of the countries to visit in 2017, earning on display in the booth. Overall, the government's reform programs in the plaudits for its varied attractions, Taiwan booth was deemed to be a coming year. vibrant nightlife, distinct cultural great success, given the large landscape, relaxing hot springs, turnout of visitors and the International News modern architecture and ancient considerable amount of travelers who temples. The publisher also noted decided to put Taiwan on their Taiwan achieves top rating ‘bucket list’. in 2017 Freedom House that visitors can quickly travel report between Taiwan’s cities and diverse natural environments, ranging from In the ‘2017 Freedom in the World soaring forests and mountains to report’ released on 31 January by the sunny sub-tropical shores, on the US-based NGO Freedom House, cutting-edge high-speed rail network. Taiwan was classified as a free Rough Guides also pointed to the nation, achieving perfect scores in nation’s diverse cultural landscape, the survey’s two categories of noting its fusion of Japanese and US political rights and civil liberties for influences with Chinese traditions. Editorial: Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium, Information Division Website: http://web.roc-taiwan.org/be_en/index.html E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +32(0)2/287.28.16 or +32(0)2/287.28.11 .