President Ma Ying-jeou is set to receive this year’s Eisenhower Medallion Award at the People to People International Conference which started September 17 in the southern city of Tainan.
President Ma has been chosen as the award recipient this year for his efforts in promoting regional peace. Foreign Minister David Lin has also been invited to give a keynote speech on “Viable Diplomacy” at the conference.
People to People International was founded in 1956 by then US President Eisenhower. President Ma is the second person from Taiwan to win the honor after Dharma Master Cheng Yen in 1994. The medallion honors an internationally known individual or organization in recognition of exceptional contributions to world peace and understanding.
The 42 recipients to date include former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan as well as nongovernmental organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children.