TORONTO—On the evening of June 26, Liang Yi-peng, director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Toronto, attended the second performance by Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. He praised the principles of “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” conveyed by Shen Yun as universal values shared by all humanity, noting their significant importance to society and the world at large.
He continued to say that safeguarding human rights is a government’s common responsibility. “Articles 11, 13, and 14 of the Constitution of the Republic of China clearly guarantee the people’s freedoms of speech, teaching, writing, and publication; freedom of religious belief; and freedoms of assembly and association. For a government, safeguarding these freedoms is our responsibility; for Taiwanese society, this is a conviction upheld by all. Holding fast to this belief—and representing our government’s commitment to the value of freedom—I came to enjoy tonight’s performance specifically to express our support.”
Reflecting on the support Shen Yun has received from various sectors in Canada, Mr. Liang expressed his deep admiration. “I greatly appreciate the support shown to Shen Yun by people across Canadian society and wish to convey our sincere respect. Because Canadian society steadfastly upholds these beliefs and values, many nations—including Taiwan—hold Canada in high regard. Taiwan deeply cherishes the shared values of democracy, freedom, and human rights, as well as the partnership we have built. Being here today, I also want to express our admiration for the courage and perseverance of our Canadian friends.”
He believes that the Shen Yun artists’ conviction and courage deserve to be cherished by more people. “The artists’ courage and their commitment to these values deserve to be seen; they also deserve for people to come in person to participate and show their support. Their efforts will not be in vain; their dedication moves hearts and will inspire more people to uphold justice and promote these ideals,” Mr. Liang said. “I believe this is a truly meaningful endeavor. Their hard work, toil, and sacrifices will not go unrewarded.”
Shen Yun is dedicated to reviving the nearly lost 5,000-year-old traditional Chinese culture.
“Shen Yun showcases the beauty of Chinese civilization and tradition, and it also makes us look forward even more to a China free from Communist Party rule,” he said.
“I perceive more than just the performance on stage; I see the tremendous effort invested behind the scenes to bring this show to the audience,” Mr. Liang said. “I know that countless people have devoted their heart and soul to making today’s performance possible. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincerest respect for the courage, steadfastness, and dedication of everyone involved—both on stage and behind the scenes.”
